280 Living September 2016 by Starnes Media

280 Living

September 2016 | Volume 10 | Issue 1

neighborly news & entertainment 2016 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Readying for a runoff Mayoral race comes down to Neuendorf, Picklesimer in Oct. 4 vote

Longtime Chelsea mayor Earl Niven holds an American ﬂag at a reception at Liberty Baptist Church after returning from a trip to New York City in September 2001. Photo courtesy of Earl Niven.

15 years later, memories of 9/11 still fresh By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Although the events of Sept. 11, 2001, were 15 years ago, Chelsea Mayor Earl Niven perhaps remembers them more vividly than most Southerners. Why? Because he was there. Niven and his wife work with senior adults at Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea, and they plan a bus tour trip for the group every year. In 2001, their ► Cahaba 10-day trip was schedValley Fire uled to conclude in New plans annual York City on Sept. 11. observance The couple, along with 45 at Station 181, other adults, had no idea A30 they would experience ﬁrsthand the attacks on the twin towers. After arriving in New York on Sept. 10, the group toured the city and got back to their hotel late that evening. They were scheduled to leave their hotel, the Marriott Marquis, at 8 a.m. the next morning. Niven said leaving 30 minutes late that morning, which happened by chance, kept the group out of harm’s way. Had they left

INSIDE

The Oct. 4 runoff election for Chelsea’s mayor will be between Tony Picklesimer, left photo with wife, Cindy, and Dale Neuendorf, right photo with wife, Mary. Photos by Erica Techo.

By ERICA TECHO

THE FACES OF YOUR NEW CITY COUNCIL*

or the ﬁrst time in 20 years, the city of Chelsea will have a new mayor — but who that will be has not been decided. Following the Aug. 23 election, mayoral candidates Tony Picklesimer and Dale Neuendorf will move on to a runoff election Oct. 4. More than 2,300 Chelsea residents turned out to vote, with Picklesimer receiving about 47 percent (1,100) of the votes, Neuendorf receiving about 32.5 percent (761) of the votes and Alison Moore

Place 1

Sumners

1,462 votes

Place 2

Place 3

Weygand

Ingram (I)

1,684 votes

1,719 votes

Barnes .....................759 Thomas ...................527 Isbell ...................... 464

Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Tupelo, MS Permit #54

See ELECTIONS | page A30

INSIDE

†Place

Place 5

Bittner

Calhoun

Morris

1,128 votes

1,117 votes

†Results too close to call as of press time

1,503 votes Cooley ................... 385 Holcombe ..............334

See MEMORIES | page A29

*Preliminary election results, courtesy of city of Chelsea

Sponsors .............. A4 280 News ............. A6

Business ..............A10 Chamber.............. A13

School House .....A16 School Guide ..... A24

Events ................... B4 Sports .................. B12

Opinion ................ C10 Calendar .............. C13 facebook.com/280Living

Back on His Feet

Defying Distance

Oak Mountain distance runner Cole Stidfole ﬁnds renewed appreciation for running in wake of health scare.

Long-distance friends create blog to share with others their journey with cerebral palsy.

See page B1

See page C6

A2 • September 2016

280 Living

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280Living.com

September 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ A3

A4 • September 2016

280 Living

About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell Every summer, I tell myself that this is the year I’ll finally adjust to Southern summers and enjoy my time outdoors in our long, sunny days. And every summer, I scurry back indoors to the blessed air conditioning, choosing instead to glare out my window at the heat waves rising off the pavement. Despite living in the South since I was 5 years old, I’m convinced that I’m a cold weather creature, built for scarves and hats and boots. This was reinforced recently when I was lucky enough to take a trip to Alaska. The landscape, the wildlife and everything about the trip was stunning. But in the midst of that, I also felt a sense of relief at the summer temperatures, which felt more like the mid-autumn days I experience here. “Ah,” I thought, “this is what it’s supposed to be.” That breath of cold, fresh air evaporated all too quickly once I got on the plane back home. But it gave me a nice reminder that I’ve got fall days

coming my way. Summer’s just about over, and we chose a few of the best photos you sent us to highlight your summer adventures. Be sure to find those inside. You’ll also find stories about Chelsea’s Community Food Table, athletes with incredible perserverance in the face of injuries and a local resident who attended the recent Republican National Convention. Whether your interests are in tasting food from the best of Shelby County’s restaurants or in running those calories off, we also have previews of several events this month. I hope you enjoy September and all our community has to offer this month. Meanwhile, I’ll be cranking up the air conditioning and looking fondly at my sweaters.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Chelsea High School students got the chance to paint their parking spots at the start of this school year. Photo by Erica Techo.

Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Digital Media: Sports Editor: Page Designers:

Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Heather VacLav Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Community Reporters: Erica Techo Jon Anderson Tara Massouleh Staff Writers: Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries

Advertising Manager: Matthew Allen Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett Jon Harrison Gail King Eric Clements Contributing Writers: XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX Interns: XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX

280 Living neighborly news & entertainment

Contact Information: 280 Living PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnespublishing.com

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney@ starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

Published by: Starnes Publishing LLC

For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Legals: 280 Living is published monthly. Reproduction or

use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. 280 Living is designed to inform the 280 community of area school, family and community events. Information in 280 Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/ photos submitted become the property of 280 Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/ photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

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Please Support Our Community Partners 30 A Realty (A11) A Team Ministries (C8) Aesthetic Dermatology (C3) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (B21) Alabama Outdoors (A5) Alabama School of Fine Arts (A8) Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (C16) ARC Realty (C1) Asbury United Methodist Church (A19) Bedzzz Express (B2) Bellini’s (A31) Ben Franklin - One Hour (B18) BenchMark Physical Therapy (C3) Big Oak Ranch Auxiliary (A16) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (A7) Birmingham Heart Clinic (C11) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (A30) Bloom and Petal (A10) Boy Scouts of America - Greater Alabama Council (A20) Brandino Brass (A12) Brawley & Gilbert Orthodontics (B22) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A23 Brookwood Medical Center (B3) Cabinetry Refinishing & Restoration (A1) Cahaba Glass (C10) Cahaba Valley Animal Clinc (C10) California Closets (A23) Carbon Recall (A29) Carden Heating and Cooling (A20) Cardiovascular Associates of the Southeast (C2) CB&S Bank (A13) Children’s of Alabama (C6) Chiropractic Today (C2) Classic Events/On The Green (B9) Classic Gardens (B6) Danberry at Inverness (C7) David J Putman for Congress (A2) Decorating Dens Interiors (B3) Dieguez-Marino Orthodontics (B19) Doorstep Delivery (C7) Encore Rehabilitation (C9) Everyday Pet Styles (A17) Expedia CruisShipCenters (A7) EZ Roof & EZ Restoration (B23) Fancy Fur- Paws and Claws (C14) Flat Fee Real Estate (A6) Grandview Medical (A9, A18) Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (C12) HealthSouth Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital (B11) Healthy Smiles of Birmingham (A24) Highland Dentistry (A13) Hilltop Montessori School (A27) Hollywood Pools Outdoor

Finishings & Spas (A16) Huntington Learning Center (B7) Hutchinson Automotive (B16) Hydro-Ponics of Birmingham (B16) Indian Springs School (A25) Issis & Sons (A14) Kete Cannon, RE MAX Southern Homes (A12) Kirkwood by the River (A30) Lamb’s Ears, Ltd. (B4) Mantooth Interiors (A17) Neuralife 1 LLC (C4) Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church (A29) Odyssey Early Schools (B6) OLLI (A3) Outdoor Living Areas (C9) Pak Mail (C14) Pastry Art (B19) Planet Fitness (A19) Preserve Paints (A15) Pure Barre 280 (B22) RealtySouth Marketing (C13) Revolve Kitchen (A21) River Highlands of Birmingham (C15) Royal Automotive (B24) Seasick Records (A22) Sherry Best, Realtor (B17) Southeastern Jewelers and Engravers (C6) Spring Valley School (A28) St. Vincent’s Health Systems (C8) St. Vincent’s Health Systems (A32) St. Vincent’s One Nineteen (A22) Stonecreek Montessori School (A28) Studio Red Salon (B5) Terry Crutchfield, Re/MAX Advantage South (A5) The Altamont School (A26) The Gingerbread Lady (A10) The Highlands Community (A3) The Insurance Place (B14) The Maids (A1) The Marketplace at Lee Branch (C12) The Tile Cleaner LLC (B12) The UPS Store - Inverness (A31) Therapy South Greystone (B8) Town of Mt Laurel (C5) Uptown at BJCC (C14) Uptown Nail Spa (B10) Village Dermatology (B1) Vocelli’s Pizza (B10) Wedgworth Construction (B13) Weigh To Wellness (A21) Whale of a Sale (B18) Willpower Fitness Gym (C11) Window Decor HomeStore (B14) Wok N Roll Inverness (A8) YMCA of Greater Birmingham (B21)

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A6 • September 2016

280 Living

280 News City Council approves annexation near Publix By ERICA TECHO A new parcel of property is now within Chelsea city limits. At its Aug. 16 meeting, the Chelsea City Council approved the annexation of a 1.79-acre property located on Old Highway 280 behind Publix. The annexation request was submitted by Mark Byers with Partner Properties LLC. The property owners plan to rezone the property to B2 general business district, Mayor Earl Niven said during the pre-council session. Niven said he also talked to the owners of the adjacent property, who said they were OK with a business coming next door. The council later unanimously approved the annexation. Also during pre-council, Niven discussed the establishment of a municipal court, which has been a campaign point during the ongoing municipal elections. Niven said that during a recent mayor’s meeting, he asked the other area mayors their opinion on Chelsea establishing a municipal court. “There were 12 mayors, there wasn’t one that said, ‘Have a municipal court,’” he said. “You’re going to lose money. Even if you have it one day a month, you’re going to lose money.” Niven added that the city’s ordinances can be handled by the district court. “We don’t have to have a municipal court,” he said. “You’re going to run into a lot of expense that’s unnecessary, but that’s going to be your problem to face, not mine.” Council member Alison Nichols said she recently met with a judge who said that in

Columbiana, he would not enforce any city ordinances. Nichols said she brought up the city of Chelsea’s contract with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office during the conversation, but the judge said he would not enforce those. Niven then added that a sheriff’s deputy who came by his office said she needed to know which roads in Chelsea were private versus public in order to enforce city ordinances. Council member Dale Neuendorf asked about the issue of public versus private roads, and Niven said an example of a private road would be a road in a subdivision where the developer’s obligation to the city — a top coat on the road — had not been completed. A gated community would also have private roads. “What does that say? That our deputies should enforce,” Niven said. “So that’s something I just request y’all check out thoroughly. It’s not going to be a moneymaker like some of y’all think.” Niven also provided an update on the Chelsea Sports Complex, which he said is coming along nicely. He discussed a possible idea for the sign to the complex, which he said he would like to represent the sports that had fields in the complex — baseball, football, softball, tennis and more. The sign would probably not be cheap, he said, but would be worth it for the ballpark. Also at the meeting, the council: ► Approved a motion to promote the city through an advertisement on the game day program which will be distributed at each home football game. ► Approved to pay the city’s bills.

Library records busiest summer yet By ERICA TECHO Chelsea Public Library has been nonstop for the summer, library Director Dana Polk told the Chelsea City Council. Polk presented summer program enrollment numbers to the council during its Aug. 2 meeting at Chelsea City Hall, noting there were more than 833 program attendees in their kindergarten through adult programs. “This has been the busiest summer we’ve had,” Polk said. There were more than 3,000 visits to the library in June and more than 2,600 in July, and the library also saw a boost in teen involvement, Polk said. Most summers, about 12 students sign up for the teen summer program, but 45 signed up for this year’s A Minor Film School program, Polk said. Polk thanked the City Council and Chelsea Kiwanis for their support of the library’s many programs, and said she hoped the library would be able to continue to add to its resources through grants she recently applied for. “We’re doing a lot; we’re bursting at the seams,” she said. Also during the meeting, Chelsea COP Director Jim Thornton introduced past directors of the volunteer-based program and thanked Mayor Earl Niven and the council for their continued support. “After 17 years, we’re still at it; we’re not driving our own cars anymore,” Thornton said. “We have ﬁve [COP vehicles], and the mayor pays the bills. We’re thankful for that.” Niven thanked the COPs for being the eyes and ears of Chelsea without having any “cowboys,” or individuals who thought they had more power than they actually have, in the program. Also at the meeting:

Chelsea Mayor Earl Niven receives an award from COP Director Jim Thornton. Photo by Erica Techo.

► Chelsea Fire and Rescue Chief Wayne Shirley updated the council on news at the fire department, including steps toward extra safety precautions for paramedics during EMS transport. Council member Dale Neuendorf also thanked the department, as he heard a Chelsea resident stopped by the fire station with chest pains, and the firefighters on duty realized he was having a heart attack. He was transported to the hospital and without their quick action, Neuendorf said the man might not have survived. ► The council approved the annexation of a 69.1-acre property on County 336. The property is owned by Scott and Elizabeth Weygand, and while it is still in the planning stages, Weygand said it will be used for a residential development. ► Niven gave a snapshot of city finances, as per the request of individuals running for office this August. The city has about $3.8 million in total funds and about $13.3 million in general obligation warrants. “Anytime you see a growing city that provides for its people, you’re going to have debts,” Niven said.

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September 2016 • A7

Shelby CFO: FY17 budget shored up by ‘solid’ growth By ERICA TECHO Shelby County’s revenues look to be in good shape for fiscal year 2017, County Chief Financial Officer Butch Burbage told the commission. Burbage shared projected revenues with the Shelby County Commission during its Aug. 8 meeting, noting areas where the county has seen increases. “The good news is our revenues are very solid,” he said. The county plans its budget for the upcoming fiscal year by looking at what revenues are expected, and then planning which projects would be feasible. The year-end projection for fiscal year 2016’s property tax revenue is just over $13.1 million, according to projections provided to the commission, but Burbage said this is expected to be up to $13.8 million for FY 2017. “We’re seeing some increases in property tax,” Burbage said. “[Property Tax Commissioner] Don [Armstrong] is telling me that is mainly in the commercial side.” Most strip malls in Shelby County are full, Burbage said, which has also led to an increase in collections on sales taxes. The year-end projection for sales taxes this fiscal year is about $14.9 million, and the proposed revenue for the FY 17 budget is over $15 million. “I’m actually projecting something we’ve never had here before, going over $15 million for our one-half of one cent on sales tax,” he said. “I’m projecting $15,281,000, so that’s a real healthy growth in our sales and use tax.” Burbage also discussed potential projects for the county. The projects included spending for the Talledega Shelby Water Treatment Plant, park development and maintenance and economic development projects, but Burbage said the county likely will not spend all of that in the upcoming fiscal year. “These projects are fairly large, so it’s

County Chief Financial Ofﬁcer Butch Burbage shares projected revenues for the county at the Aug. 8 Shelby County Commission meeting. Photo by Erica Techo.

usually not something that would happen in one ﬁscal year. It really spans a couple of ﬁscal years,” he said. Overall, Burbage said, most funds were seeing a “healthy bump” according to his projections. “We’re healthy. I don’t want to get over-exuberant, but we have a healthy economy, we have a healthy budget.” Also at the meeting, the commission: ► Approved bids for uniform shirts and jackets and for pressure seal forms. ► Approved a resolution regarding upcoming HVAC renovations in the County Administration Building. The resolution awarded the bid for the project to Douglas Built, and it approved the relocation of Shelby County Commission meetings during the time of the renovations. Effective Sept. 12, commission meetings will be located in the Harrison Regional Library Building, located at 50 Lester Street in Columbiana. ► Approved a resolution to use electronic poll books in lieu of printed lists in the upcoming statewide general election. No county funds are involved in this project, Burbage said, which is being implemented by the secretary of state.

A8 • September 2016

280 Living

Chelsea residents petition increase of sewer rates Connie Gilliland speaks to the Shelby County Commission on behalf of Chelsea residents and residents in the area around Chelsea who are concerned about rising sewer rates. Photo by Erica Techo.

By ERICA TECHO A group of Chelsea residents attended the July 25 Shelby County Commission meeting to ask the commission for help combating steadily increasing sewer rates. Connie Gilliland, whose address is in Sterrett, created an online petition about a month ago, she said, and received over 400 signatures. The petition noted an increase in sewer rates for homes on Double Oak Water Reclamation’s system. “The cost of sewer rates in Chelsea and some of the surrounding areas has risen from $45 to $81 since 2009,” Gilliland read from the petition. “Double Oak Water Reclamation increases rates every year. At this rate, it will be over $100 a month within three years. We need to put a stop to the automatic rate increases.” Gilliland also presented the commission with several questions, including if the Double Oak Water system’s rates were subject to review. County Manager Alex Dudchock addressed some of Gilliland’s questions, and said he had received several similar inquiries before the meeting. “The ﬁrst inquiry was jurisdictional control. Does the Shelby County Commission have any rights, under any of their governing laws, general laws, local laws, to get into the regulatory business, either by way of an appointed review board or in a more regulatory manner? The answer is no,” Duchock said. The Public Service Commission is the only entity that could regulate sewers, Dudchock said, and even the PSC can only do so with approval from the state legislature. Another sewer system in Shelby County, which includes the water treatment plant on Hugh Daniel Drive, is subject to a review board committee, but this is based on a contractual right, not a legal one, said County Attorney Butch Ellis. That right was established following a sale of that water treatment plant, Ellis said. “Where does it rest, as far as sewer rates? It rests with a request having to go to the Shelby

County Legislative Delegation, house members and senators, to say, ‘OK. Here’s a body, here’s a group of folks who are served by a private system — and there’s others in the state of Alabama — that would like to have whatever mechanisms are available to help them police how they’re getting their rates increased,” Dudchock said. Gilliland said while she understood the commission cannot change the rates, the petition was asking the commission to stand up on the citizens’ behalf. “I know that y’all can’t make them change the rates, but y’all have more power than we do as individuals, and so what we would like for y’all to do is try to get a meetings with Double Oak and possibly with the new mayor, with whoever is elected in Chelsea, this year, please, before the rates go up again,” Gilliland said. She asked the commission to have a meeting between the different entities in order to see what incentives could be given by the county or the city of Chelsea to prevent the increase in the rates. Gilliland also said she has heard discussion that some businesses had closed, or chosen not to open in Chelsea, due to the high sewer rates. Dudchock said she had heard correctly on that matter. Commission Chairperson Rick Shepherd

said the county commission does not have much power in the state of Alabama, but that they would work to open up conversations in order to offer a unified voice to legislators. Commissioner Robbie Hayes, who represents Chelsea and surrounding areas on the commission, said he has already talked to two of the mayoral candidates about meeting. “It’s going to take our legislature doing something to allow us to have any kind of power,” Hayes said. “… But there’s still strength in numbers and strength in governments, and it would take this organization as a county commission along with the city getting together.” The commission said they would notify Gilliland when they began talks with the new Chelsea mayor. Also at the meeting, the commission discussed a recommendation to create a to-benamed nonprofit entity to work toward the economic advancement of the county. The new nonprofit entity would work with the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce to support business recruitment and retention in Shelby County as well as develop relationships with stakeholders to facilitate development and job growth countywide, according to a recommendation written by the Shelby County Economic

Development Task Force. No action was taken on the recommendation, which was presented by the chairman of the Shelby County Economic Development Task Force, Bill Keller. Also at the meeting, the commission: ► Heard a proposal for a new communication system for public safety agencies. The system would help create interoperability between public safety agencies, would cost around $7,047,800 and would include new radios and infrastructure. This cost would be divided between several entities, including the county, grant funding, municipalities and other entities. No decision was made on the proposal. ► Discussed the possible funding of a new transport van for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. County Chief Financial Officer Butch Burbage said based on average monthly spending, the Sheriff’s Office will likely be just under $500,000 over budget for the year. The new transport van, which costs $67,000, could be purchased using capital money that was approved at the start of the year. There’s about $204,000 left in that pot of money, Burbage said, and it can either be used to offset the amount the Sheriff’s Office goes over budget or used to purchase the new van, which would then be used to transport federal prisoners. Following several minutes of discussion, the commission decided to have Hayes and Commissioner Elwyn Bearden meet to discuss the matter and bring a recommendation to the commission. Burbage said while the commission does not need to take action on this matter, he hoped to have their guidance. ► Accepted resolutions for bids on gasoline, diesel and fuel services and on picnic tables and benches. ► Approved an alcohol beverage license request for Vocelli Pizza, which is located at 5479 Highway 280 South. ► Approved the creation of two full-time appraiser positions. ► Approved an ALDOT funding agreement for roadwork in Montevallo.

280Living.com

September 2016 • A9

In an emergency, it’s about time.

In a medical emergency, every minute matters. So, at Grandview Medical Center, you can look forward to faster care in the emergency room. We work diligently to have you initially seen by a medical professional* in 30 minutes – or less. And, with a team of dedicated medical specialists, we can provide a lot more care, if you need it.

*Medical professionals may include physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

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Domino’s is now open in the Brook Highland Shopping Center, 5285 Highway 280, Suite 105. dominos.com

Urban Barn Clothing Company is now open at 5511 Highway 280, Suite 115. The women’s clothing boutique previously had a location at Lee Branch. 451-8888, urbanbarnclothingco.com

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Suite 113. 408-4004

Vince Gray has opened a full-service ﬂorist shop, Bloom and Petal, at 5511 Highway 280, Suite 104 in Greystone Park, offering everyday arrangements, cash and carry, sympathy/celebration of life arrangements, birthdays, anniversaries, parties, weddings and much more. 994-2434, bloomandpetal.com

Three Pandas Chinese Restaurant is now open at 5511 Highway 280,

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3Generations Boutique, a women’s clothing store, is now open at 5510 Highway 280, Suite 109. 326-7333, 3generationsboutique.com

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Perry Warren has opened a Farmers Insurance agency at 5511 Highway 280, Suite 305. The ofﬁce is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 739-2580, farmersagent.com/pwarren

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280Living.com

September 2016 • A11

Coming Soon SouthPoint Bank has purchased the building occupied by Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, located at 3501 Grandview Parkway. The bank plans to move its corporate headquarters to the site. No date has been announced for the move. 503-5000, southpointbanking.com

Blue Rain Express Car Wash will open its second location in the Tattersall Park development near the intersection of Highways 119 and 280. Its ﬁrst location is located on Highway 31 in Pelham, just south of Riverchase. 874-6460, blueraincarwash.com

News and Accomplishments Huddle House, 16937 Highway 280 in Chelsea, is now smoke-free as of August 1. 678-2214, huddlehouse.com 13

Hirings and Promotions Henderson & Walton Women’s Center, with an ofﬁce at 398 Chesser Drive, Suite 3, Chelsea, has hired Dr. Megan Shine Poston. Dr. Poston joins their staff of 11 physicians. 678-8093, hwwc.net 14

Relocations and Renovations Garrett, Perkins and Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has relocated from their ofﬁce at 1500 Urban Center Drive, Suite 350, to a new location at 5120 Selkirk Drive, Suite 200, in Hoover. 313-9153, stephengarrettassociates.com

Zig Zag Sewing Studio has relocated from Chelsea to 5479 Highway 280, in the Arbor Place shopping center. 678-9822, zigzagsewingstudio.com 10

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar has announced that it will relocate to 330 Inverness Corners. The new location is expected to be open in November. 298-0200, ekobe.com 11

ofﬁces at 3660 Grandview Parkway, Suite 100, to 1900 28th Avenue South, Suite 105 in Homewood. 871-5360, ingramnewhomes.com

Ingram & Associates, LLC, a real estate company, has moved from its

Bruno Event Team, 100 Grandview Place, Suite 110, has hired DeeDee Mathis as senior vice president of marketing. Mathis will oversee the team’s creative works and ticketing divisions. 967-4745, brunoeventteam.com 15

Anniversaries Salon 43 One, 5291 Valleydale Road, Suite 125, is celebrating its ﬁrst anniversary in business on September 1. 968-1620, salon43one.com 16

Closings 17

Rainbow Paint and Decorating, 5479 Highway 280, has closed.

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280 Living neighborly news & entertainment

Email dan@280living.com

A12 • September 2016

280 Living

Dreamland bringing barbecue down 280 By LEXI COON Birmingham residents will soon be able to get Dreamland Bar-B-Que without traveling all the way to Southside. The barbecue chain is set to open its 10th location in Inverness Corners later this year or in early 2017. The building, located at 101 Inverness Corners, formerly housed a Chili’s which closed down in summer 2015. “When we first opened in Birmingham in 1993, the community embraced us and we have been so proud to call them our guests and friends. We are opening a second Birmingham location to not only connect with our existing guests closer to where they might live or shop, but also connect with new guests that might not be spending much time downtown,” said Ashley Davis Sandlin, Brand Strategy Manager for Dreamland Bar-B-Que. Dreamland Bar-B-Que’s history in the state of Alabama, dates back to when John “Big Daddy” Bishop first opened the doors to his restaurant in Tuscaloosa in 1958. In the beginning, the restaurant served more than barbecue and white bread, offering up everything from sandwiches to stamps, and quickly created the ribs and secret sauce that Dreamland is known for today. As the restaurant’s popularity grew over the years, Dreamland Bar-B-Que soon added an second location. It was 35 years after the original restaurant was created that Dreamland Southside in Birmingham opened. “It was the first location to open after the Original Dreamland,” Davis Sandlin said. “We were especially proud to open in a neighborhood that had fallen on hard times back then and become a catalyst for positive attention and improvement in that area.” In the time since Dreamland Southside opened, the restaurant has expanded to other

cities in Alabama, Georgia and Florida for a total of nine locations. Dreamland Southside, located near the UAB campus, spent years growing with the community based in downtown Birmingham and those who work in Southside or Homewood, Davis Sandlin said. With the Dreamland at Inverness, the restaurant will have the opportunity to reach out to the communities of Chelsea, Hoover, Pelham and Indian Springs Village, she added. The new location will be larger than Dreamland Southside, totaling at 6,000 square feet, and will have more parking available for guests. Despite the growth of the restaurants, the taste of Dreamland will remain the same. “We pride ourselves in the fact that all Dreamland locations cook ribs just the way Mr. Bishop did, over direct heat from a hickory pit,” said Davis Sandiln. “Dreamland 280 will have the same great menu as Dreamland Southside featuring Dreamland’s legendary ﬂavor.” The new restaurant will have similar hours to that of Dreamland Southside, which is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Even with a 10th location, the restaurant still holds itself to their standards of great food and great service, everyday, which Davis Sandlin said helps bring loyal customers back and encourage new folks to try their menu. “We’re excited to give guests the legendary experience they’ve grown to know and love,” she said. “[We’re looking forward to] the opportunity to see our loyal guests and friends that live out that way more often and the opportunity to introduce new guests to our ‘ain’t nothing like ‘em nowhere’ experience.” For more information about Dreamland Bar-B-Que, visit dreamlandbbq.com.

Dreamland CEO Betsy McAtee stands outside the future Inverness Corners location of Dreamland Bar-B-Que. Photo by Lexi Coon.

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September 2016 • A13

Chamber Shelby County superintendents report on schools at luncheon By KATHERINE POLCARI The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce focused on education at its July 27 luncheon. The chamber’s Education Work Group asked for the superintendents of Shelby County’s three school districts to discuss how each system was doing in terms of student success, technology and funding. Randy Fuller, superintendent for Shelby County Schools, said the system had seen success since shifting its focus a few years ago. “About three years ago we changed the focus in Shelby County Schools [and] we began looking at the total child,” Fuller said. “While we are still focused on academic excellence, we also want to focus on the soft skills [such as] leadership, presentation [and] teamwork.” Fuller said one way that the district has accomplished this goal is by implementing a student program called My Future. “Each senior student does a presentation of what they are going to do after graduation,” Fuller said. “[It’s] powerful because they have given conscious and intentional thought of what they are going to do.” Another program that Shelby County Schools has seen success with utilizes technology and feedback to better the schools, Fuller said. “Shelby County Schools was recently recognized of one of the top 20 schools in the nation in ‘Project Tomorrow - Speak Up,’” Fuller said. “That is a survey program that looks at parents, teachers and students [to

Randy Fuller at the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Photo by Katherine Polcari.

see] what they want in schools.” Fuller said that from the results of this survey, the district was able to implement a mobile app for parents in order to give them easy access to important information about their child and his or her school. In terms of funding, Fuller said that Shelby County’s ﬁnances are in the hands of smart, capable leaders. Alabaster City Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers and Pelham City Schools Superintendent Scott Coeﬁeld also gave updates on their school systems. Vickers gave an overview of his school district’s three-year history. He said that one of the district’s greatest accomplishments was

that the graduation rate has been raised from 89 percent in 2013 to 98 percent in 2016. The district has accomplished this raise in graduation rates by making education relatable and interesting to their students, Vickers said. One method used to accomplish this style of education is to have STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) in each school. “This is going to make a difference [by] having students think about what they like and how they can get better at it,” Vickers said. “We think that this is the best investment that we’ve made as a school system.” Vickers also discussed the district’s decision to improve their network infrastructure and wireless Internet rather than using the money to buy more technology for the classrooms. “The funds that we had to use to get our infrastructure where it needs to be was the equivalent of buying over 6,000 devices,” Vickers said. “It doesn’t do any good to buy those devices if we don’t have the infrastructure for the students to use them.” Another major project that the district has been using funding for is the construction of a new high school that should be completed by July of next year, Vickers said. Coefield’s report focused on the importance of building a stable financial foundation. “As a new school system, the thing that I am cognizant of, and that the board is very much aware of, is that the decisions that we make now will impact boards of education over the next 20-25 years,” Coefield said. One way that the Pelham City Schools has planned to stay on track, Coefield said, is by sticking to a plan that is made up of nine

Preview of

September Luncheon

The Greater Shelby Chamber is hosting its annual Safety Awards this September. During the chamber’s community luncheon on Sept. 27, public safety officials from throughout Shelby County will be honored. “Each year we are privileged to recognize individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence in public safety by presenting them with an award sponsored by A.C. Legg, Inc.,” said chamber director of communications and marketing Lisa Shapiro in a press release. The program is a chance to give thanks for fire, police and sheriff personnel for their service and for keeping Shelby County communities safe, the release said. The luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena. Reservations are requested by noon on Friday, Sept. 23. The cost is $20 for chamber investors and $30 for future investors. To register, go to shelbychamber.org or call the chamber office at 663-4542.

commitments, one of which is that the district will not be mortgage poor. The other commitments include safety, curriculum, great educators, technology, extracurricular, community support, planning and facilities. Even with the district’s wariness of budgeting money, technology is a commitment that is well worth the investment, Coeﬁeld said.

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280 Living

Department director: Tourism has multibillion dollar impact in Alabama Alabama Department of Tourism Public Relations Director Brian Jones speaks at the August South Shelby Chamber luncheon. Photo by Erica Techo.

By ERICA TECHO When tourism is translated into dollars in Shelby County, the impact is about $326 million, said Alabama Department of Tourism Public Relations Director Brian Jones. Jones was the guest speaker at the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon Aug. 4, and he focused on the economic inﬂuence of tourism across the state. While the impact is in the hundred millions in Shelby County, that number jumps up into the billions when looked at statewide, Jones said. “Last year, 2015, we had about 25 million people that visited the state of Alabama. You think about it, our state’s population is somewhere around 4.5 million to 5 million,” Jones said. “What that meant in terms of economic impact, just in 2015 alone, was about $12.6 billion that came into the state because of the tourism and travel industry.” In addition to bringing money into the economy, Jones said tourism also brought about 175,000 jobs to Alabama. These jobs are spread throughout the economy, from lodging to tourist attractions to restaurants, and tourism also brings people into communities to spend money in other ways, Jones said. While residents also spend money in the community, they, in turn, require resources such as roads, schools and other amenities. Tourists, however, do not require those resources. “The great thing about tourists is they come in, they leave their money and then they leave,” Jones said. “So it works out great for them; they have a great time, and it works out great for the communities because they get all the beneﬁts and the advantages from it.”

Another way tourism beneﬁts the state, is it doesn’t take from the general fund, he said. Rather, 25 percent of lodging taxes goes toward funding the department of tourism, and the remaining 75 percent goes into the general fund. The tourism department’s focus is on bringing out-of-state individuals into Alabama, Jones said. “That’s who, as a state-tourism department, we’re going after trying to get them to Alabama, and more importantly, get them here to spend the night, spend two nights, spend three nights and put their dollars in the Alabama economy,” he said. This is done through a variety of campaigns and publications, which typically focus on a yearly theme, Jones said. In the past, the Year of Alabama Food also included a publication called “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die,” as well as a mobile app. This year’s promotion is

focused on Alabama makers, and encouraging people to visit everything from Alabama’s boutiques to space-exploration work done in Huntsville. “When you start counting up the amount and the variety of things this state makes, we make everything from old-school brooms and quilts to the aerospace industry in Huntsville and the automobile manufacturing that’s across the state,” he said. “And it lets our own people know — but more importantly lets the region and the nation know — what exists here in Alabama.” Aside from attracting tourism dollars from visits, Jones said highlighting what the state has to offer is also an industrial recruitment tool. “It’s not just tourism,” he said. “That’s how people get a feel for the community, is often through tourism.” For more information about the tourism department, go to alabama.travel.

Preview of

September Luncheon

The September South Shelby Chamber of Commerce community luncheon will feature guest speaker Dr. John Stewart, president of University of Montevallo. Stewart will discuss the state of the university as well as improveStewart ments it has seen during the last few years. The luncheon is set for Sept. 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Columbiana First Baptist Church. No RSVP is required, and the cost is $12 per person. Columbiana First Baptist Church is at 208 North Main St. in Columbiana. For more information, go to southshelbychamber.com.

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Resident attends Republican National Convention By SYDNEY CROMWELL While most people watched Donald Trump accept the Republican presidential nomination on TV, Chad Mathis was right at the foot of the stage. Mathis, an eight-year resident of North Shelby County and lifelong Republican, was one of Alabama’s delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July. During the primary elections, Mathis served as the state co-chair for Sen. Ted Cruz’s campaign and was elected one of his delegates. Though Cruz dropped out prior to the convention, the delegates he won in the Alabama primary were still invited to the convention. “I was sad that he wasn’t going to be the candidate, but I still wanted to go and represent the people of Alabama,” Mathis said. Behind the big speeches that get shown on TV, Mathis said a lot of his time was spent in meetings and taking votes. He was there for a week and said he never ran out of things to do at the convention hall. “There was just so much going on the entire week, which was very surprising,” Mathis said. Being on the main convention ﬂoor, Mathis said, was “pretty electric” due to the energy of the crowd. He said it was not uncommon to see national politicians and major news reporters milling through the crowd alongside the delegates. “You’re just in a sea of people, and you never know who’s going to walk next to you,” Mathis said. “So we saw all kinds of folks.” The colorful costumes associated with political conventions also were entertaining, Mathis said. Since he knew all of Alabama’s Cruz

delegates and most of the Trump delegates prior to the convention, Mathis said they made a good group to represent the state. “It was a great atmosphere and good camaraderie between all the delegates,” he said. Mathis is a self-described “political junkie.” He has been politically active since 2010 and besides his work on the Cruz campaign, Mathis ran for a U.S. House of Representatives seat in 2014 and is the chairman for the Alabama Federation for Children, an education choice political group in Montgomery. Because of his love for politics, Mathis said the speeches were some of the highlights of his trip. In that regard, Mathis was lucky. Alabama’s delegation was placed right next to the main convention stage, so he had the perfect spot to listen to speakers. Mathis said he particularly enjoyed hearing from Cruz and vice presidential nominee Mike Pence. The week closed out with Trump’s acceptance speech and the iconic balloon drop. Mathis is back home now with his wife, Angie, and children, Abby and Ben. He is an orthopedic surgeon at the Alabama Bone and Joint Clinic in Pelham. He said he’s looking forward to seeing how the race plays out until November. “I think Donald Trump has to get a little more on message and make his case to the American people,” Mathis said, adding that he thinks the Republican candidate has a good shot at the presidency if he does these things. Regardless of the election-day results, Mathis said he’d like to be a delegate at the next Republican convention in 2020. “I was very pleasantly surprised by the whole process,” he said.

Chad Mathis with another delegate at the Republican National Convention. Photos courtesy of Chad Mathis.

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280 Living

School House

Hoover mom inspires with lunchbox ideas Holley Grainger uses social media to share healthy meal ideas with other parents By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Now that school is back in session, one thing on the mind of many parents is what to pack in their child’s lunch. From buying the food to making a menu to packing it up ﬁve days a week, it can be one more thing on the to-do list. Holley Grainger is a nationally recognized nutrition and lifestyle expert, dietician and mom of two, and she shares her simple and healthy lunch ideas via her website and social media. With a focus in culinary communications, she has worked at Southern Living, myrecipes.com and cookinglight.com before starting her own company, HJG Communications. Hoover resident Grainger has a large social-media following, with more than 4,000 Facebook fans and Pinterest followers and more than 16,000 followers on Instagram. She said she enjoys not only telling people about nutrition, but also showing them how to make healthy lunches for school. “I want to help busy parents with simple, strategic solutions to feed their children,” she said. “I make things that are practical and delicious. I still do a lot of shortcut meals and assembly. I fall under the same category as all moms with busy children, busy lives and lots of activities, but I want to take what I’m doing and empower other families to eat healthy.” Grainger said parents can take simple ingredients and ﬁnd ways to combine them to make lunches for their children. Her lunchbox posts have resonated with parents across the country. Her post on 125 Healthy Lunchboxes for Kids garnered 50,000 pins on Pinterest. While she tries to plan a couple of days ahead, she does have mornings where she is packing last minute and running out the Holly Grainger likes to include her daughters, Ellie and Frances, in packing their lunches to teach them about healthy eating. Photo by Frank Couch.

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Healthy Lunch Guide l Whole grain or complex carb: whole grain bread or whole grain crackers. l Protein: Lean meat, such as grilled chicken, deli meat ham or turkey. Other options include roll-up sandwiches with meat, cheese and avocado with a thin layer of lettuce and tomato. Hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter, Wheat Thins and hummus, nuts or almond slices. l Fruit and vegetables: Preferably both, but at least one. Try grapes, berries, applesauce, carrot sticks, broccoli, cauliﬂower or black beans. l Dairy: Milk. Other substitutes are water or 100% juice, no more than 6-8 ounces. Options can include string cheese or yogurt tubes. *Keep items cold using frozen pack bags Kelly Saunders is a dietitian at Children’s of Alabama.

Sample lunches that Holly Grainger packs for her daughters for school. Photo by Patty Bradley.

door, she said. Grainger packs her girls’ lunches in divided boxes to separate food and help with portion control. “It’s easier for me when I have a divided lunchbox to be able to go in and think yogurt, fruit, vegetables and grain/ wheat,” she said. “It helps to see visually how to portion and how much of each item they should be eating. When the kids come home, it goes in the dishwasher and makes things easy.” She said children are getting too much sugar and not enough calcium and vitamin D. She recommends packing fruits,

vegetables, dairy and protein for a balanced lunch. She encourages parents to bring their children in the kitchen to help them pack their lunch, giving healthy options and letting them choose what to pack. “When you allow children to help make decisions about what is going in their lunchbox, learning about food, making healthy choices, when you turn them loose in the school cafeteria, they will have a fundamental foundation in what goes together,” Grainger said. “It’s all about variety and teaching children to make the good choices.” While lunchrooms are trying to ﬁnd ways to make lunches

healthier, parents can encourage their children to make a healthy connection between eating and performance, she said. When healthier choices are made, it translates into more energy in the classroom or in their extracurricular activities. Grainger plans to launch some e-books soon, as well as downloads and a newsletter featuring weekly lunch plans. She has a wealth of information on her blog, and every third post on her Instagram account is a #healthylittlelunchbox picture. She will soon offer a newsletter subscription and do live Facebook streams so parents can make lunches along with her. For more information, go to HolleyGrainger.com.

A18 • September 2016

280 Living

Chamber to host annual fair for job awareness

Vestavia Hills resident, Chelsea High student Kevin Michael Bryant awarded Eagle Scout

By ERICA TECHO Selecting a career path can be a daunting task, and the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce is working to make it easier for Shelby County students. This September, the chamber will host its second annual Student Career Awareness Fair, where professionals from the community will help walk 10th-graders through potential job paths. The career awareness fair is one of the chamber-sponsored events geared toward creating an educated and prepared workforce for Shelby County, said chamber director of communications and marketing Lisa Shapiro. The event will be held Sept. 12 and 13 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Shelby County Exhibition Center in Columbiana. Students from across the county will hear about education requirements, training requirements, salary range, workplace expectations and other aspects of employment. They are also encouraged to ask questions about entering the workforce, Shapiro said. The chamber solicits volunteers from a range of professions, spanning from agriculture and natural resources to ﬁnance to marketing, to attend for either a half-day or a full day. For more information about the event, visit business.shelbychamber. org/events.

Jan Corbett speaks at a previous Parent Summit in Alabaster. Photo courtesy of Jan Corbett.

Parent summit on substance abuse open to entire Chelsea community By RACHEL BURCHFIELD The Shelby County Drug Free Coalition will sponsor a parent summit on substance abuse for Chelsea schools Sept.12 at 6 p.m. at the Chelsea High School Auditorium. Before the summit begins, attendees can browse informational tables, ask questions and take home information from 5:30 to 6 p.m. “An event like this is important,” said coalition coordinator Jan Corbett. “We really need to educate and inform parents on what is going on out here in the community, what kids are doing, and how parents can get out there and help.” The evening’s featured speakers include Clay Hammac, commander of the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force, who

will speak about the drug culture in Shelby County; Alan Miller, chief deputy district attorney, who will speak about Shelby County United for Safe Communities; and Lonnie Layton from Bradford Health Services, who will speak about how parenting ties into being substance free. “We will offer parenting tips to prevent kids from getting mixed up with substance abuse and addiction,” Corbett said. The parent summit is a partnership with Compact 2020, Chelsea High School, Bradford Health Services, the Shelby County School System, the Shelby County District Attorney, the Shelby County Drug Free Coalition and the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Kevin Michael Bryant, of Boy Scout Troop 83, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on September 10, 2015. Troop 83 is sponsored by Dawson Baptist Church in Homewood, Alabama. Bryant has been involved in scouting for 11 Bryant years beginning as a Cub Scout in Pack 352 at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, where he earned the Arrow of Light award. On his way to the rank of Eagle Scout, Bryant earned a total of 31 merit badges, though only 21 merit badges are required to obtain the rank. Within the troop, he held the positions of Scribe, Historian, Librarian and Senior Patrol Leader. For his Eagle Scout leadership project, Bryant chose to revitalize and improve a portion of the amphitheater at Covenant Presbyterian Church. This project included clearing out, cleaning up and improving an area with new shrubbery behind and beside the outdoor amphitheater. After raising over $1,000, Bryant coordinated the efforts of 15 scouts and adults in completing this project in July 2015. A senior at Chelsea High School, Bryant will be graduating in May 2016 and plans to attend Shelton State Community College. While at Chelsea High, Bryant was inducted into the National Beta Club and the National Technical Honor Society. At Shelton State, he plans to enroll in the Industrial Electronics Technology program and participate in the Mechatronics partnership with Mercedes Benz U.S. International. Bryant is the son of Michael and Ellen Bryant of Vestavia Hills and is an active member of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. – Submitted by Ellen Bryant.

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A20 • September 2016

280 Living

Life skills workshops coming to Shelby County Schools By ERICA TECHO Shelby County students will have a new after-school opportunity this year. Life Labs, workshops that are geared toward soft skills not typically taught in the classroom, will make its way into some Shelby County schools starting the week after Labor Day. The workshops are one hour a week and focus on instilling lifelong habits that can later help with cultivating relationships and getting a job, said founder Noelle Ward. “The whole goal of this was to help people be more successful in their careers and as employees down the road,” she said. Workshops are after school and will be offered to students at Oak Mountain Elementary, Oak Mountain Intermediate, Oak Mountain Middle and Hilltop Montessori. The program was founded in Vestavia Hills in 2015, and Ward said a goal has always been to expand the program down the U.S. 280 corridor. “That was something we wanted to do from the beginning,” she said. “Birmingham, I think, is on the cusp of greatness.” When she started Life Labs, Ward’s goal was building a strong workforce and resident base for Vestavia Hills and surrounding cities. She hopes for the program to continue to grow throughout the state. “I would love to see the work pool that we’re developing in the children, that when they come up they will be strong leaders and strong employees,” Ward said. Life Labs are geared toward elementary and middle school students, with each grade approaching soft skills in a different manner, she said. A second-grader’s communication skills will be different from a middle schooler’s skills, Ward said, and the lessons and activities used in Life Labs reﬂect that. Students also can build on those lessons year to year if they continue with Life Labs. Although she initially considered gearing Life Labs

Students at Riverchase Elementary help sort book and stuffed animal donations for the YWCA as part of Life Labs. Photo by Erica Techo.

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September 2016 • A21

Students at Riverchase Elementary write notes to go along with donations for the YWCA as part of Life Labs. Photo by Erica Techo.

toward middle- and high-school students, Ward said she realized young children tend to be more open to participating and learning soft skills. “At the younger age, they’re just so much more moldable and willing to hear these things,” she said. Lessons taught in Life Labs are centered on skills that Ward said are a secret to success. Students are taught about being observant and respectful, which help build over life skills. “Manners are really a byproduct of what we do because manners are really a product of respect,” she said. Many students have basic manners down, such as saying “yes, ma’am” or “no, sir,” Ward said, so they expand on the basics. “We talk about courtesy and respect in regard to manners, [including] ﬁrst impressions and making eye contact and thanking the host after a birthday party,” she said. One example Ward said students learn is how to build trust with their parents. Ward will ask if students’ parents will nag them about cleaning their rooms and learn how that connects to trust — if students start cleaning their rooms consistently

and without being asked, their parents will trust them to clean their rooms rather than having to nag. “Those are things that build trust,” she said. “Those aren’t manners. That is more soft skills and social skills for success.” Students also will learn applicable skills such as how to get invited back to a friend’s home or birthday party. Thanking a friend’s parent, behaving respectfully and writing a thank you note are a few ways to make a good impression, Ward said. “Who gets to choose who gets to go? The parent makes the ultimate decision, so you need to know how to interact with the parent,” she said. Life Labs workshops are one hour, one day a week after school. While the workshops are throughout the school year, payments are monthly. That way, parents can work around after-school activities or sports, Ward said. “That’s intentional because as a parent, I want ﬂexibility,” she said. One month of Life Labs, or four workshops, is $50. For more information about the courses or to register, go to thelifelabs.org.

A22 â&#x20AC;¢ September 2016

280 Living

CATEGORY 1 WINNER CATEGORY 1 RUNNER-UP

Drew Harris takes a dolphin ride in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Photo courtesy of Lori Harris.

Brandon Pockstaller cools off with a Chelsea-blue snow cone from the Chelsea Sno-Shack. Photo courtesy of Susan Pockstaller.

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September 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ A23

CATEGORY 2 WINNER

Peter King, 6, reads 280 Living while at the home of his grandparents, Billie and Mike Holleman in Eagle Point. Photo courtesy of Billie Holleman.

CATEGORY 2 RUNNER-UP

Avery Harris and Drew Harris hold a copy of 280 Living while viewing seven states from Rock City at Lookout Mountain in Georgia. Photos courtesy of Lori Harris.

A24 â&#x20AC;¢ September 2016

2016

280 Living

INSIDE indian springs school .......A25

the altamont school ........A26

Hilltop montessori ...........A27

spring valley school ........A28

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

stonecreek montessori ...A28

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

280Living.com

indian springs school For more than 60 years, our threefold mission has set us apart: We seek to develop in students a love of learning, a sense of integrity and moral courage, and an ethic of participatory citizenship. Our motto, “Learning Through Living,” continues to resonate with students, faculty and more than 2,000 alumni. Indian Springs prepares students not just for college, but for the world. We start with talented, award-winning faculty who are committed to the highest standards of teaching, and we give them freedom to innovate. We then bring together a diverse group of just over 300 boarding and day students from across the street and around the world and give them the tools they need to learn to think critically, listen respectfully, seek creative solutions and make a difference in their community. Our programs spark imaginations, both inside the classroom and out. Alumnus and award-winning writer John Green ’95, author of “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Paper Towns” and “Looking for Alaska,” says he became a learner at Indian Springs because he found himself in a “community of learners.” Springs’ comprehensive core curriculum, AP classes, electives and limitless opportunities for independent study allow students to explore their individual interests while also challenging themselves intellectually and academically. Hailing from 10 countries and 13 states, our boarding and day students come together to create opportunities for new styles of learning, understanding and growth. Last year, Indian Springs celebrated the opening of 18 new classrooms made possible through gifts to the largest capital campaign in the school’s history, Springs Eternal. The classrooms feature 75-inch Clear Touch

September 2016 • A25

KEY FACTS • GRADES: 8-12 • WHERE: 190 Woodward Drive, Indian Springs, AL • CALL: 988-3350 • WEB: experiencesprings.org

“

Schools with a boarding component like [Indian] Springs are able to bring a wonderful mix of students to campus to learn together, and that diversity is a vital part of what the best schools in the country are offering.

”

HEAD OF SCHOOL DR. SHARON HOWELL

interactive learning panels to foster interactive learning and global connectivity. Springs is one of the first schools in Alabama to have the movable panels, which also allow students to take virtual classes through the select Malone Schools Online Network. Built for energy efficiency using eco-friendly materials, Springs’ new classrooms integrate seamlessly with the school’s beautiful, 350-acre campus, which was designed in the early 1950s by the celebrated landscape architecture firm the Olmsted Brothers.

Located just 15 minutes from downtown Birmingham, the campus features the school’s organic Fertile Minds Learning Garden, a 12-acre lake, biking and hiking trails and numerous opportunities for outdoor learning and recreation. Inspired by their surroundings, our students challenge themselves and put responsibility into practice by taking part in Springs’ distinctive student government, which works with faculty in a model of shared governance; by singing in the school’s acclaimed, 120-member Concert

Choir, which performs around the world; by pushing themselves to excel through Springs’ competitive athletic and scholastic teams; and by giving back through countless student-run clubs and service opportunities. The result: happy, creative, motivated young people who ask much of themselves, love learning, and look for ways to make a difference. We welcome you to visit and experience Springs for yourself.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

A26 • September 2016

280 Living

THE ALTAMONT school Altamont is more than a school where talented, smart individuals gather together to learn. It is a community of caring, like-minded leaders who come together with the common goal to inspire, educate and encourage one another to reach full potential. At Altamont, we are preparing students to be good citizens; educating compassionate, curious, students; committed to producing wellrounded students; a rigorous school with strong core values; a family. We will encourage and support our students’ interests; graduate mature, enlightened students who are prepared for their life and career; prepare the next generation to be critical thinkers; do everything in our power to see your child succeed. We do this because we care; we believe in unending possibilities; we’re small, passionate and competitive; we believe in truth, knowledge and honor. Each day at Altamont, we strive to improve the fabric of society by graduating compassionate, educated individuals capable of independent thinking and innovative ideas. That is never more important than in today’s changing and fast-paced world. Preparing students for the world requires both balance and breadth, and this is where Altamont’s faculty stands out. No matter a student’s passion or strength, each one is nurtured and allowed to grow, mature and learn in a caring environment. We are conﬁdent that our students are articulate, passionate and ethically aware young people who will make a difference in the world, hold themselves to a higher standard and lead trustworthy lives. Altamont is a small family with socio-economic, ethnic and religious diversity, and our honor code is essential to the fulﬁllment of our mission. The school has an intensive college preparatory academic program with a

KEY FACTS • • • •

personalized college search program, including an annual college tour. And the school offers many opportunities for children to develop multiple talents by participating in arts, foreign language, leadership programs, community service, clubs, class projects, science competitions and sports — all at the same time.

We seek highly motivated students who crave greater breadth and challenge in all areas of school life. The school awards about $1 million in merit and need-based scholarships each year in order to attract the best, brightest and most diverse student body. Altamont’s main campus is on 28 acres on

GRADES: 5-12 WHERE: 4801 Altamont Road S. CALL: 879-2006 WEB: altamontschool.org

the crest of Red Mountain just south of downtown Birmingham. The main school building houses 40 classrooms, two science wings, a fine arts center, a student center, an art gallery and sculpture garden, a computer lab, a 14,000-volume library and special studios for chorus, art, photography and orchestra. The athletic facilities include two gymnasiums with basketball and volleyball courts and a weight room. The main campus offers six tennis courts, a soccer field and a track. A second campus provides another gymnasium as well as soccer, baseball and softball fields. Please join us for one of our Open Houses to learn more about our school, our students, our mission and what sets us apart.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Hilltop Montessori

Hilltop Montessori and its stakeholders are involved members of the Birmingham community and have been for two decades. Offering a quality, Montessori education to the Birmingham area since 1996, Hilltop is located in the beautiful town of Mt. Laurel, off of Highway 41 near Greystone and Shoal Creek. Hilltop supports the community by participating in neighborhood events, community service projects, sports teams and academic competitions. Accredited and established, Hilltop graduates leaders in the community, including a Fulbright Scholar, six National Merit scholars, more than 100 Honor Society students and national award winners in science, technology, foreign language and mathematics. This includes an Intel Science and Engineering national winner and a state winner of the National Geography Bee. Hilltop is accredited under AdvancED/The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and The Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), and their toddler, preschool and kindergarten programs are accredited by The American Montessori Society (AMS). HMS is also the only private school in the state to carry all three accreditations and was the first LEED-certified green elementary school in Alabama. Additionally, HMS is a member of The International Montessori Council (IMC) and The National Council of Private School Accreditation (NCPA). The beautiful, wooded campus is also certiﬁed with the NWF, National Wildlife Federation. Housed in a LEED-certiﬁed green school in the Shelby County area, the school attracts the best and brightest in Birmingham. A native plant trail, edible gardens, an apiary and outdoor classrooms complete the building and offer a picturesque setting for the students to pursue their passions, develop a love of learning and work toward their fullest potential. The small student-teacher ratio of 1-to-12, as well as daily Spanish immersion classes and a full, authentic Montessori curriculum, helps to address the whole child: academically, socially and emotionally. State-of-theart technology in the elementary and middle

KEY FACTS • GRADES: 18 months-8th grade • WHERE: 6 Abbott Square Birmingham, AL 35242 • CALL: 437-9343 • WEB: hilltopmontessori.com

school prepares learners to thrive in the 21st century. The mission of Hilltop Montessori School is to provide a quality, Montessori education in an environment that fosters a child’s love of learning and a respect for self, others, community and the world. The school is proud to celebrate its 20th birthday this school year, along with the completion of its Phase Three expansion. The expansion will house an updated ﬁne arts area, including a stage for musical performances and a dedicated art studio. The expansion will also house a science lab, additional classroom space, a teaching kitchen and a multimedia library.

September 2016 • A27

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

A28 • September 2016

280 Living

SPRING VALLEY SCHOOL

STONECREEK MONTESSORI ACADEMY

Spring Valley School is an independent, nonsectarian school for students in grades 2-12 who struggle with dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other learning differences. It is the only accredited school in central Alabama devoted to impacting the lives of children with learning disabilities, and it serves children from all over the Birmingham area and beyond. Founded in 2000 by parents seeking better educational opportunities for their children, the school is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors. The school recognizes that the learning processes of these students differ from that of their peers and that each student possesses unique academic needs. As a result, the school offers a multi-sensory (visual, auditory and tactile), language-based instructional program presented in small classes (between five and nine students). Core beliefs include: ► A successful student sets academic goals and monitors progress in achieving them ► Students excel when they are actively involved in the learning process ► Students thrive when high expectations

When Director Melinda Bray co-founded Stonecreek Montessori Academy, she had a distinct vision based on her doctorate studies at Vanderbilt and her years of local and international experience. Alabama’s only Montessori school that spans from toddlers to 12th grade, Stonecreek is a school where students ﬁnd joy and purpose in their learning. It is a small school by design, where each student is known, appreciated and loved, and where children can be intellectually challenged and their individual interests supported. Teachers encourage students to think creatively and critically and strive to build a community based on meaningful relationships. An emphasis on problem-based, placebased and service-oriented learning means that students ask questions, research answers and discuss their real-world ﬁndings. This process extends far beyond the classroom. Students have visited, for example, the Cahaba River to study its ecosystems, Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks to study the environment and history, and the United Nations headquarters in New York City to

KEY FACTS • • • •

GRADES: 2-12 WHERE: 2701 Sydney Drive CALL: 423-8660 WEB: springvalleyschool.org

are coupled with opportunities to achieve academic success ► The curriculum must incorporate a variety of teaching strategies to accommodate various learning styles ► Students become good citizens by contributing to their community through leadership and service. Spring Valley School is accredited through AdvancED (formerly the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). To learn more or to discuss admission, contact their administrative assistant at 423-8660 to set up an interview with the executive director and a tour of the school. Spring Valley School thanks the many donors who helped make their dream of a new building a reality!

KEY FACTS • • • •

GRADES: Toddlers-12 WHERE: 159 Business Center Drive CALL: 500-0412 WEB: stonecreekmontessori.org

participate in the Model United Nations. The results speak for themselves. Stonecreek students have won regional, state and national awards in writing, debate and science, with many in robotics. Despite a lack of “teaching to the test,” nearly two-thirds of students perform at least two grade levels above their grade. The school has celebrated two graduating classes, with 100 percent of graduates accepted into college, a median ACT score of 26 and average merit scholarships of over $17,000 per student. Perhaps most importantly, Stonecreek students are simply happy to be at school.

280Living.com

September 2016 • A29 Niven’s photos of the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks from his tour bus in New York City. Niven and other members of Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea were en route to Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty when the attacks began. Photos courtesy of Earl Niven.

Annual observance to be held at Station 181 Cahaba Valley Fire annually acknowledges the events of Sept. 11, 2001. This year the observance will be at Station 181, 5487 U.S. 280, across from Lee Branch Shopping Center. “We normally assemble our apparatus in front of the station and raise our large American flag from our ladder truck,” said Grant Wilkinson, public information officer for the Cahaba Valley Fire District. “At the time of the aircraft impact of that morning, we render our observance by sounding our sirens for one minute for each event. At the end of the observance, we render our salute to our fallen brothers and sisters.” Observance times (all times Eastern): ► 8:46 a.m.: American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into World Trade Center North Tower; ► 9:03 a.m.: United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into World Trade Center South Tower; ► 9:37 a.m.: American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon; ► 10:03 a.m.: United Airlines Flight 93 crashes in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Wilkinson said while the event is not specifically intended for the public to participate, he said they are always happy to have anyone who wishes to attend come to the station. – LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

MEMORIES

CONTINUED from page A1 at the scheduled 8 a.m., they would have been at Battery Park or boarding the ferry to Ellis Island, just four blocks away from the World Trade Center towers. “I’m a person who stays on schedule, and when you travel on a 10-day trip over 4,000 miles you have to, because all the activities were under contract,” Niven said. “We were out late the night of the 10th, and having senior adults from ages 55 to 85, I thought they might need more time to sleep, so I said we’d leave at 8:30 a.m. instead. I believe that was God telling us to leave late and keeping us under His hand.” It was when the group’s tour bus was en route to Battery Park to catch a ferry taking them to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island that they found out a plane had hit one of the towers. “We didn’t know what it was,” Niven said. “We saw a gaping hole in the building and thought it was just a ﬁre.” They turned on the bus radio and quickly

found out a passenger plane crashed into the building. It was then Niven had the bus driver pull off the road because emergency vehicles were passing by. Niven grabbed his camera and began snapping pictures from his frontrow seat. “I have a photo I took after the second plane hit that I’ve made over 3,000 copies of,” Niven said. “It clearly shows the face of Satan. It’s appeared in Time magazine and several other publications. I didn’t know I had captured it until I had my film developed, and that’s when I saw it.” During this time of uncertainty and confusion, Niven’s thoughts turned to his group of senior adults and what was going through their minds, especially how some with high blood pressure and heart conditions would be affected. “I knew I needed to get them back to the hotel,” he said. “It took us 45 minutes just to get the bus turned around and head back to the hotel. Once we got out of the heavy traffic, I had the driver pull over and had a prayer for the people in the buildings.” After an hour and fifteen minutes, the group arrived back at the Marriott, where FBI

personnel were in the lobby checking room keys. The group watched news coverage in their rooms for several hours before heading out to walk around Times Square. “I’ve been to New York several times,” he said. “There’s always so much traffic in Times Square. At 2 p.m. on the 11th, there was no traffic or cars there. All bridges and entrances into and out of the city were closed.” Niven said he slept very little that night, as local media were calling him for interviews. The group was, however, able to leave as scheduled the following day via the George Washington Bridge. When they arrived back in Chelsea, there was a reception of people and media welcoming them home. Niven said a trip back to New York to finish the trip is on his bucket list. He said he hopes to take the group back East to Washington, D.C., and end in New York to see plays. He will soon have more time in his schedule to allow that, as the first and only mayor of Chelsea, he will be retiring Oct. 31 after 20 years in office. “I’m pleased with what we’ve done. There’s a great foundation to build on,” he said.

A30 • September 2016

280 Living

Picklesimer was excited to receive the number of votes and amount of support he did, he said, and his team expected a runoff to occur. Neuendorf said he is proud to continue to represent Chelsea as one of the candidates in the runoff, and he hopes to see voters come out to the polls in October. Photo by Erica Techo.

ELECTIONS

CONTINUED from page A1 Nichols receiving about 19.7 percent (452) of the votes. In races with more than two candidates, one candidate must earn 50 percent plus one more vote to avoid a runoff between the top two candidates. Picklesimer was excited to receive the number of votes and amount of support he did, he said, and his team expected a runoff to occur. “I’m very proud to get 1,100 votes,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of that. Our team worked so hard, and we ran a very positive campaign, and it was a campaign that was built on issues and solutions, and obviously Chelsea responded, they responded in a big way. It is very hard to win a three-person race outright, but we came very close.” Neuendorf said he is proud to continue to represent Chelsea as one of the candidates in the runoff, and he hopes to see voters come out to the polls in October. “I’m very optimistic and proud that we’re in the runoff because that was our objective tonight, was to make the runoff and get into that so that we have the chance to ﬁght another day,” he said. “I’m a little disappointed that there’s so much spread in the votes as there are, but that’s just what the reality is.” Neuendorf added he is “extremely optimistic that this can be turned around.”

COUNCIL SEATS

RUNOFF ELECTION TIMELINE

SEPT. 5 SEPT. 29 OCT. 3

Last day for candidates to contest election results. Candidates participating in runoff elections must continue their weekly campaign disclosure reports up until the runoffs. Last day to apply for a regular absentee ballot for runoff elections. Last day to apply for an emergency absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be hand-delivered by end of business day on Oct. 3, or postmarked Oct. 3 and received by noon Oct. 4.

OCT. 4

Runoff elections.

OCT. 11

Runoff results will be counted and certiﬁcates of election issued.

OCT. 17

Last day for runoff candidates to contest election results. Candidates who do not win election must ﬁle with the Jefferson County probate judge to dissolve their campaign committee.

NOV. 7

Mayor and council members take ofﬁce.

Following the election, the next Chelsea City Council will only have one incumbent. Place 3 council member David Ingram was re-elected, receiving 1,719 (78.7 percent) of the votes. “I obviously appreciate the support. It was a great turnout, the largest turnout we’ve had in any election in Chelsea,” Ingram said. “It’s still not the percentage of registered voters we’d like to see, but a large turnout nonetheless. I know myself and the other candidates appreciate everyone coming out to vote.” The elected council members will make a great team, Ingram said, and he looks forward to working with the new council and new mayor starting in November. “I think they all are going to bring something different to the table which is pretty neat,” Ingram said. “Everybody has their own expertise.” Lt. Cody Sumners was elected to Place 1 with 1,462 (65.8 percent) of votes, Scott Weygand was elected to Place 2 with 1,684 (76.2 percent) of votes and Casey Morris was elected to Place 5 with 1,503 (68 percent) of votes. As of press time, the Place 4 seat was undecided, pending

280Living.com the count of provisional ballots. Candidate Tiffany Bittner received 1,128 votes and candidate David Calhoun received 1,117 votes. With 22 provisional ballots, however, it was too close to call at press time. Sumners said he is thankful for the support he received and encourages Chelsea residents to reach out if they have any questions, ideas or concerns. “Thank you to everyone for your support, votes and most of all, prayers,” Sumners said. “I look forward to serving the citizens of Chelsea and helping us move into the next era as a city while still keeping our Chelsea values.” Weygand said he is eager to get into ofﬁce in November to begin working for the city of Chelsea. “I’m excited to get started,” he said. “I want to thank everybody that came out and voted for me, and I’ll do the best I can for the city of Chelsea and all of its citizens.” Morris said he believes the group of newly elected council members, as well as incumbent Ingram, will work well together for Chelsea. “I think with the amount of turnover we’re having in the council and ﬁnding out who the new mayor will be in October, I think we’ve got a great group of leaders,” he said. “I think the city of Chelsea will be in good hands, and the future is bright.” Provisional ballots were counted Aug. 30. For an update on the Place 4 race, visit 280living.com.

HOOVER ELECTS A NEW MAYOR

Election night brought an upset in Hoover as candidate Frank Brocato took the mayoral election with nearly 52 percent of the vote, beating incumbent Gary Ivey and fellow challenger Steve McClinton. “It’s a big responsibility. Any mayor in any city this size and some of the challenges that we have ahead of us, it’s something I take very seriously, and I’m going to do everything I can to bring our city together,” Brocato said.

September 2016 • A31

THE FACES OF YOUR NEW CITY GOVERNMENT* Mayor

†Council, Place 1

Brocato

Posey

Lott

7,129 votes

5,254 votes

5,172 votes

Ivey (I) ................ 4,826 McClinton............1,800

Rives (I) ............... 2,321

‡Council, Place 2

Council, Place 3

Smith (I)

Swiney

Lyda (I)

6,199 votes

6,171 votes

Frank Brocato’s daughter, Gina Harris, hugs the mayor-elect after receiving news that he won the election by taking 7,129 of the total 13,755 votes Aug. 23. Photo by Sam Chandler.

Out of 13,755 total votes cast, Brocato took home 7,129, which was enough to avoid a runoff election in October. Some of his major campaign issues included additional funding for Hoover City Schools and public safety. While Brocato’s win was the biggest news of the night, he’s not the only new face coming to Hoover’s elected government for 2016-2020. Joining him at the November inauguration will be Mike Shaw, who won the Place 4 seat over Mike Holt with 65.5 percent of the vote, and Derrick Murphy, who took nearly 68 percent of the Place 5 votes over Dan Ellis. Two incumbents are guaranteed to be returning for four more years. John Lyda kept his Place 3 seat with the support of 9,968 voters, taking nearly 79 percent of the vote over challenger Arnold Singer. John Greene also fended off opponent Robin Schultz for Place 7, ending the night with 58 percent of the vote. However, the rest of the races did not

have a clear winner as of 280 Living’s press time. Place 1 will likely be a runoff between candidates Curt Posey and Trey Lott. Posey has a narrow edge of 41 percent of the votes to Lott’s 40.5 percent, but candidates in a three-person race must receive at least 50 percent plus one vote in order to avoid a runoff. The runoff election will be held on Oct. 4. The ﬁnal canvassing of results will reveal the winners in Places 2 and 6, which were too close to call in the preliminary tallies. Incumbent Gene Smith and Sam Swiney had a difference of only 28 votes between them, giving Smith a razor-thin margin of 50.1 percent to Swiney’s 49.9 percent. Place 6 was even closer, as only nine votes separated candidates Casey Middlebrooks, with 6,212 votes, and Jason DeLuca, with 6,203 votes. Visit 280living.com for updates on the winners in these races once ﬁnal canvassing has been completed. – Sydney Cromwell and Sam Chandler contributed to this article.

9,968 votes Singer ................. 2,698

Council, Place 4

Council, Place 5

Shaw

Murphy

7,985 votes

8,675 votes

Holt...................... 4,202 Ellis ........................4,124 ‡Council, Place 6

‡Council, Place 6

Council, Place 7

Middlebrooks

DeLuca

Green (I)

6,212 votes

6,203 votes

7,010 votes Schultz ............... 5,067

*Preliminary election results, courtesy of city of Hoover

†Runoff scheduled for Oct. 4

‡ Results too close to call as of press time

280 Living

SECTION

B BACK ON HIS FEET neighborly news & entertainment

Events B4

Sports B12

SEPTEMBER 2016

OMHS distance runner Cole Stidfole ﬁnds renewed ﬁre for running in wake of unexpected diagnosis By SAM CHANDLER

ole Stidfole compared the sensation that pulsed through his lower body to a mixture of ﬂexible concrete and hot liquid. At ﬁrst, he said, his legs felt heavy. Then, they started to burn. “You know how you feel at the end of a race when your legs don’t want to work at all?” Stidfole asked. “That’s how I felt at the beginning, even before I started running. They just wouldn’t move.” From February to April 2016, the sensation tormented him. The seasons changed. His pain did not. Stidfole, the reigning Gatorade Alabama Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year from Oak Mountain High School, was forced to miss his junior track season this spring after suffering extensive nerve damage in his legs and feet. But thanks to the unconventional treatment of a long-sought diagnosis, the OMHS senior is now on the mend. He’ll be trying to make up for lost time this cross-country season. “Everybody gets knocked down, and he was knocked down,” said Cole’s father, Andy Stidfole. “But the measure of the character

is what you do after you’ve been knocked down.”

SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

Cole Stidfole first experienced the sensation in his legs at the state indoor meet in early February, but initially, he wrote it off. He had developed bronchitis the week before, and figured he was still dealing with its lingering effects. “I’m just sick, so I’ll just push through as hard as I can,” Cole Stidfole recalled. Although he placed third in the Class 7A 3,200-meter race, the pain radiating through his pencil-thin legs didn’t subside in the days after the meet. Rather, it began to worsen — and spread. “At first, we thought it was just his legs,” Andy Stidfole said, “and then he said, ‘Dad, I used to be able to do 100 pushups in a row, and now I can’t even do 20.’ It worked its way up. He just felt it in his legs because that’s what he was using and pushing on.” Eventually, Cole Stidfole’s condition got to the point where he lost feeling in parts of his legs and feet. He also said he couldn’t stand

See STIDFOLE | page B22

Even in the face of an unexpected diagnosis, Cole Stidfole did his best to maintain composure. Photo by Sam Chandler

We are excited to announce that our Village Dermatology 280 location will be moving to The Village at Lee Branch, which is conveniently located right off Highway 280. We invite you to stop by our new place, and check out our new spacious and comfortable waiting area. We have the same medical-grade skincare products you love, and Dr. Curl will be seeing patients in this location every Tuesday and every other Thursday beginning September 1st. Don’t forget to join us for Transformation Tuesday on the first Tuesday of every month. Enjoy personal, one-on-one consults and special discounts on Botox, Dysport, Restylane, Sculptra and skincare products. Call today to RSVP and reserve your spot. Our New Address: The Village at Lee Branch 201 Doug Baker Blvd. Birmingham, AL 35242 205.877.9773 villagedermatology.net

Dr. Kristy Curl

B2 â&#x20AC;¢ September 2016

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September 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ B3

B4 • September 2016

280 Living

Events Taste of Shelby County: Good food for a good cause

A player tees off at the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce Golf FORE Education tournament. Photo courtesy of Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce.

By KATHERINE POLCARI This year’s Taste of Shelby County will give attendees the chance to sample local food and drink from 25 select businesses while they are giving back to area schools. On Sept. 8, the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation is hosting the Ninth Annual Taste of Shelby County fundraiser. This year, the event is changing locations, and will take place at Jefferson State Community College, whose culinary team has been involved with the event for several years. The director of the Education Foundation, Kendall Williams, has overseen the change of location, new restaurants and the addition of a silent auction for this year’s event. “We are excited to have added new restaurants and business from the Shelby County area,” Williams said. “We have new places for people to try who have been to the event each year, and then some old favorites as well.” While the event has experienced several small changes over the years, the main change that Williams pushed for is to publicize that Taste of Shelby County directly beneﬁts the Education Foundation. “We have been able to implement new grants based off of this event,” Williams said. “Students, teachers and principals can now apply for grants through the Education Foundation, and events like the Taste of Shelby County help support and fund those.” Spreading this message has helped open the event up to parents and teachers, Williams said, who have jumped at the opportunity to give back while enjoying a night out. “It is family friendly, so we do have a lot of kids that come, and we do have a lot of

Chamber golf tournament to support Shelby County students By ERICA TECHO

Two members of the Culinary and Hospitality Institute at Jefferson State Community College ready to serve their food at last year’s event. Photo courtesy of Kendall Williams.

parents that make it a date night,” Williams said. “[But], in the end, it’s the impact that it makes for our students that is the important part.” Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. To purchase tickets or learn more about the event, call 682-5255 or visit shelbyedfoundation.org.

At this year’s Golf “FORE!” Education tournament, more than holes-in-one will be rewarded. The Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce tournament is in its 27th year and helps fund the chamber’s education and workforce development. This year’s tournament is set for Sept. 30 at Timberline Country Club in Calera. “We’re actually in the schools in ninth, 10th and 11th grade and building each year,” said Lisa Shapiro, chamber director of communications and marketing. Proceeds from the tournament support the chamber’s Keeping It Real program, which teaches Shelby County ninth-graders about the real world of ﬁnances and budgeting; the Student Career Awareness Fair, which brings

in business leaders from the community to talk with 10th-grade students about future career options and address questions about salary, job expectations and educational needs; and the Communication Matters program, which teaches Shelby County 11th-graders soft skills such as communication, networking and resume writing. Registration for the tournament starts at 8:15 a.m., and players participate in a shotgun start at 9 a.m., meaning teams will ﬁrst tee off at different holes at the same time. Prizes will be available for longest drive, closest to the pin and through a putting contest. Entry fees are $600 for a four-person team or $150 for an individual, and that cost covers a light breakfast, lunch, green fees, a cart and two drink tickets per person. For more information, go to shelbychamber.org.

280Living.com

September 2016 • B5

Asbury United Methodist’s committee for Giggles and Grace. Photo courtesy of Anna Garner.

Giggles and Grace fall sale returns By KATHERINE POLCARI This September, join Asbury United Methodist for their biannual Giggles and Grace Consignment Sale to ﬁnd great deals and give back to the community. This year’s Giggles and Grace will take place Sept. 8-10. The ﬁrst night of the sale will be open to consignors, volunteers and those who receive a guest pass. The sale will be open to the public starting at 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. There will also be several half-price items available on Saturday. The sale will have sections for babies, children and youth at lower, more affordable prices, which is why Anna Garner, head co-chair of Giggles and Grace, said she thinks the sale is perfect for new moms and grandmothers alike. Over the past several years, Giggles and Grace has grown and continued to add to their sale to better suit the community.

“Just since I’ve been doing this sale, we have had to increase the number of consignors because there are so many people that want to participate,” Garner said. To make sure most families can participate in the consignment sale, Asbury offers vouchers to families in need. These vouchers can be used by families in need to purchase anything at the sale. “There is a set amount that we budget for each sale for the vouchers that we give out, and that is usually $5,000 or $6,000,” Garner said. “It’s really rewarding when you can hand [out] a voucher to let somebody shop for their kids, who wouldn’t normally be able to do it.” Money earned during the sale goes into Asbury’s children and youth ministries, as well as to local charities and the church’s mission trips. For more information call 995-1700 or visit asburyonline.org/gigglesandgrace.

Maddie Hoaglund is working to promote awareness for state parks through Love Your State Parks Day this September. File photo.

Student raising awareness ahead of Love Your State Parks Day By MARYELLEN NEWTON Across Alabama, state parks are being threatened. Many are in danger of limiting hours of operation, services or closing their gates altogether because their funding is being reallocated. To Westminster senior Maddie Hoaglund, this is unacceptable and heartbreaking. “State parks play a vital role in communities both to citizens and the wildlife they protect,” she said. As part of her work toward her Girl Scout Gold Award, Hoaglund is planning an event to raise awareness for this issue. Love Your State Parks Day will take place Sept. 24 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Oak Mountain State Park. Hoaglund hopes to celebrate and support the state parks and educate the community about an upcoming vote in November,

which will potentially protect state parks’ funding in the future. “I want to educate the community about the importance of state parks as well as the upcoming vote, and through this celebration, hopefully people will get out and vote,” Hoaglund said. Volunteer groups will come together to help make improvements to the park during the event. Hoaglund plans to have them work on the park’s demonstration farm by painting the barn and repairing the fence. She has currently recruited Girl Scout troops, Boy Scout troops, Teen Republicans and various groups to come out, but she is still looking for other volunteers and people to donate supplies. For more information or to sign up to volunteer or donate supplies, contact Maddie Hoaglund at maddiehoaglund@gmail.com.

B6 • September 2016

280 Living

Stuff the Bus to help ease diaper need By KATHERINE POLCARI Each month, Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank distributes around 20,000 diapers to families around the Birmingham area. Those 20,000 diapers are able to reach 400 children and help ease the pressure of diaper need. In order to support the cause and households struggling with diaper need, Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank will host its second annual Stuff the Bus Drive during the week of Sept. 9-18. Executive director Nancy Owen said the goal of the drive is to collect 125,000 diapers, while also raising awareness for diaper need. “We are encouraging people, in their own groups or businesses, to host a diaper drive,” Owen said. “Then, they can bring [collected diapers] to stuff the bus, and they could donate them during the drive itself.” Diapers for all ages are accepted, as are packages that have already been opened. “We really only solicit newborn through 5-6

diapers, but we get pull-ups from children who have been potty-trained,” Owen said. “While we don’t purchase and solicit pull-ups, we certainly will take them, and there is a need for them.” Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank repackages the diapers received during Stuff the Bus and throughout the year into packs of 25, and families in need get two packs per child once a month. “This is not just a few people who are at poverty level,” Owen said. “We hear so many stories of heartbreak [from] people coming through the food pantries and calling us.” Owen said the Stuff the Bus Drive is a great event for people to learn that diaper need is a common issue that affects so many households. “There was one [woman] who stopped to donate diapers [last year], and she was very emotional because she said that she herself had experienced diaper need when she was a young mom,” Owen said. “When that clicks

Volunteers load up a small portion of the diapers received at last year’s event. Photo courtesy of Nancy Owen.

with people, it makes a huge impact.” Diaper, monetary and food donations will be accepted throughout the week of the event. The drop-off location is in front of the Target shopping center on U.S. 280. Volunteers can

also sign up in four-hour shifts to help with accepting donations and drawing attention to the event. For more information visit bundlesdiaper bank.org.

Oak Mountain Missions Ministries’ Harvest of Hope Luncheon celebrates 10th anniversary The 10th annual Harvest of Hope Luncheon, beneﬁting Oak Mountain Missions Ministries, Inc., will be Sept. 13 at 11:30 a.m. at The Club. Photo courtesy of Oak Mountain Missions.

By RACHEL BURCHFIELD The 10th annual Harvest of Hope Luncheon, benefiting Oak Mountain Missions Ministries, Inc., will be Sept. 13 at 11:30 a.m. at The Club. The luncheon is a major fundraising event for Oak Mountain Missions, said volunteer Nancy Richard. “This is really our only fundraiser, so it is vitally important that it is successful because we have so many people that we help,” she said. Oak Mountain Missions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, demonstrates the love of Christ by providing food, clothing, furniture and financial assistance to those in need in Jefferson and Shelby counties. After receiving referrals from area churches, domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters and social service agencies, the mission provides help to clients for free. In

2015, Oak Mountain Missions served clients 5,794 times. “The number of clients that we serve has certainly increased,” Richard said. Before the luncheon begins, a silent auction will be at 10 a.m. Phyllis Hoffman DePiano, president of Hoffman Media, will be the keynote speaker, and Fox 6 broadcaster Janet Hall will be master of ceremonies. The Wilson Hill Band will provide musical entertainment. “The event beneﬁts the mission and helps with our operating expenses — it usually generates about one third of our operating expenses,” said Dianne Cesario, assistant director of the mission. “We rely really heavily on this luncheon to be a success.” For more information, contact Cesario at oakmtnmissions@yahoo.com.

280Living.com

September 2016 • B7

Oak Mountain Stage Race kicks off Sept. 25 A runner participates in the Birmingham Stage Race. Photo courtesy of David Tosch.

By JESSE CHAMBERS The demanding, 21-mile Stage 3 of the annual Birmingham Stage Race — an eagerly anticipated event for trail runners — will be at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. The race will begin at the BMX track on Tranquility Road. Stage 1 of the three-day race is 17 miles and will be at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve Sept. 23, and the 18-mile Stage 2 will be at Red Mountain Park Sept. 24. Oak Mountain is the largest state park in Alabama and has more than 50 miles of hiking and biking trails, making it ideal for Stage 3 — the longest portion of the threeday event, said race director David Tosch. “We usually do a two-lap race; that is, runners will complete two 12-mile loops,” he said. “However, the park is big enough to easily have a full 24-mile single loop.” The course at Oak Mountain is a tough one, Tosch said. “Double Oak Mountain is the highest mountain in any of the area parks, rising over 600 feet above the surrounding terrain,” he said. “Trail runners like diverse, difﬁcult terrain. The more difﬁcult we can make the race, the better they like it.” Tosch, who lays out the courses, said he tries to make sure that participants are challenged.

“I try to design the course [to be] fun and interesting to run,” he said. “I also want it to be difficult, sometimes very difficult.” This desire for difficulty stems from what Tosch calls “the primary purpose” of the entire Southeastern Trail Runs series, to prepare area runners to do well in the other “ultras” — runs longer than a marathon, with some as long as 100 miles — held in mountainous areas around the South. “We have to get runners accustomed to steep, difficult climbs on rugged, technical terrain,” Tosch said. The Birmingham Stage Race is demanding, which limits the number of participants, he said. “Hopefully, we will increase our numbers a bit this year, but the number will probably be 75 to 100,” Tosch said. Participants do not have to run all three days, however. “We do have a two-day, Saturday and Sunday option, and anyone is welcome to sign up for just one stage,” Tosch said. Tosch helped found Southeastern Trail Runs, which hosts the Southeastern Trail Series. Eight of the races in this year’s series are at Oak Mountain. To sign up or get more information, go to southeasterntrailruns.com or to ultrasignup. com.

The eighth annual Autumn Equinox Ultra trail run will be Sept. 18 at Oak Mountain State Park. Photo courtesy of Owen Bradley.

Autumn Equinox Ultra set for 8th year By SAM CHANDLER The eighth annual Autumn Equinox Ultra trail run will be Sept. 18 at Oak Mountain State Park. The event will feature a 32-mile ultra-distance race, along with a 16-mile fun run. Runners who opt for the 32-miler will complete two loops on Oak Mountain’s Red Trail system. The ﬁrst loop will be run in a counterclockwise direction, and the second loop will be run in a clockwise direction. Fun-run participants will complete one counterclockwise loop. Owen Bradley, AEU race director, said his “low-key” event welcomes runners of all levels, regardless of prior ultrarunning experience. “We want to give you a chance to accomplish something you never thought you would,” Bradley said. Bradley, a locally-renowned distance runner, said the race got an informal start in

2009 when a group of friends joined him for a run on his birthday. Bradley said he wanted to cover 30 miles since he was turning 30, so he ran two loops on the Red Trail. The total distance ended up being 32 miles, and an annual tradition was born. The AEU 32 miler will start at 6:30 a.m., and the 16 miler will start at 8:30 a.m. For those who sign up before Sept. 16, registration fees are $40 for the 32 mile and $30 for the 16 mile. Race day registration is $50. The top three overall male and female finishers in each race, along with the first-place male and female grandmasters finishers in each race, will be awarded gift cards from Alabama Outdoors, the event’s presenting sponsor. A post-race party with beer and pizza is at noon. To sign up or for more information, search for the Autumn Equinox Ultra page on ultrasignup.com.

B8 • September 2016

280 Living

Mt Laurel Renaissance Faire to raise funds for science lab, Chromebooks By JESSE CHAMBERS The 13th annual Mt Laurel Renaissance Faire — one of the largest fundraisers of the year at Mt Laurel Elementary — will be at the school Sept. 30 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. But the event is more than just a fundraiser, said PTO President Tara Walker. The Faire is “a night for the community to come out and have some family-friendly fun,” she said. “It truly is a special night that the kids love and look forward to each year.” Reminiscent of a fall carnival, the Faire is sponsored by the PTO and gets its name from the school mascot, the Knights. The Faire will feature a lot of games and activities, including an obstacle course, bounce houses, basketball and football toss, a pirate-ship ride, a swing ride and the Tubs of Fun spinning ride, Walker said. There also will be “a new challenge called the Meltdown,” she said. “It has two swinging boom arms that try to knock

you off your podium. It is similar to games from the TV show ‘Wipeout.’” Food, desserts and drinks will be available for purchase — vendors will include Chick-ﬁl-A, Johnny Ray’s BBQ, Kona Ice and Holy Cow — with proceeds going to the PTO. There will be a silent auction with a portion of the money going to classrooms and the remainder to the PTO fund for use in ﬁlling general needs around the school during the year, including technology, Walker said. “A goal this year is to add a science lab and more Chromebooks for use in the classes,” she said. The auction this year will feature a technological innovation, Walker said. “We will be doing our auction online as well as live, so anyone can bid from the comfort of their home,” she said. The Faire has something for everyone, Walker said. “The students love it because they get to run around, play all the games and eat some yummy food,” she said. “I think the teachers like it because they get to spend time with their

The annual Renaissance Faire at Mt Laurel will include several rides, games and food. Photo courtesy of Tara Walker.

students in a different environment other than the classroom. The parents love it because they get to socialize with their friends and don’t have to cook that night, and the kids crash once they get home from all the fun.” Admission at the door is $15 per child, with adults admitted free with a child. All rides and games are included. To get updates regarding the online silent auction, check the Mt Laurel PTO Facebook page. Mt Laurel Elementary is at 1 Jefferson Place.

Spain Park marching festival set for Sept. 24 By JON ANDERSON

Spain Park High School will host nearly 20 marching bands for this year’s festival. Photo by Jordan Hays.

Spain Park High School plans to host nearly 20 marching bands for its fourth annual Sparks in the Park Marching Festival on Sept. 24. The event is expected to have about 16 high school marching bands from throughout Alabama performing in competition. In addition, there will be exhibition shows by Spain Park’s 180-member band, the University of North Alabama Pride of Dixie Marching Band and the 40-member RamCorps from the University of Mobile. The UNA band, directed by Lloyd Jones, is one of the ﬁnest marching bands in the country and was invited to compete at the Bands of America Grand National Championships a couple of years ago, said Chris

Neugent, Spain Park’s band director. Jones, for the second year in a row, is arranging the music for the Spain Park band’s halftime show, Neugent said. The University of Mobile’s RamCorps, directed by Kenn Hughes, is a brass and percussion ensemble that performs across the country. The high school bands competing at Sparks in the Park will be divided into categories by size and judged. This year’s judges include: Harry McAfee, retired band director from Hoover High; Jason Smith, Mountain Brook High School band director; John Bradley, retired band director from Monroe County High School; David Koelz, drill designer for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corp; Sean Womack, instructor of percussion

studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Jacksonville State University; Stacy Arnold, UAB auxiliaries coordinator; and Mason McFarland, a former UAB drum major. Admission to Sparks in the Park costs $8 for adults and $5 for students age 6 and older. Children age 5 and younger get in free, and parking is free. Proceeds help the Spain Park band pay for things such as new uniforms and instruments, Neugent said. “The band here at Spain Park is growing, and we need new instruments every year. That goes to offset the costs,” he said. Last year’s Sparks in the Park Marching Festival brought in about $20,000, he said. For more information, go to spainparkband.org/events/sparks-in-the-park.

280Living.com

September 2016 • B9

Oak Mountain Presbyterian to host adoption, fostering seminar By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church is hosting an event for families currently going through or interested in the fostering or adopting process. “All in for the Children” will take place Saturday, Sept. 17, at OMPC from 9 a.m-2 p.m. and is sponsored by The Porch Light Ministry at OMPC. The featured speaker is Jason Johnson, co-founder of The Orphan Care Network, a nonproﬁt committed to serving, supporting and equipping foster and adoptive families, and also director of the National Church Mobilization Initiative with Christian Alliance for Orphans. The event is being held to raise awareness about orphans in our community and their needs, as well as help answer questions for those currently fostering or considering fostering or adopting. “Jason says that we are all called to do something, even though not everyone is called to adopt or foster, but we are all called to help in some way,” said Jackie Davis, foster and adoptive care coordinator at Oak Mountain Presbyterian. Johnson will speak, and there will also be breakout sessions with local speakers to explain how the process of adoption works. There will be counselors from the community sharing how parents can connect with their adopted or foster children. “We have more people in our community than you think that both foster and adopt,”

Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church is hosting an event on the fostering and adopting process this September. Image courtesy of OMPC.

Davis said. There will also be opportunities for those interested to hear more about adoption and fostering, from representatives from Lifeline and DHR. “Different agencies are coming to help and support us, and backing the church is good,” Davis said. Lunch will be provided, but childcare will not. Online registration is $10, and tickets will be $15 at the door. Professionals can also receive CEU’s can get credit by attending. Davis hopes this will be an informative and well attended event. “I feel like this is a time we need a coming together, and this is one way for the children we can do that. This is a neat way to bring community together.” For registration information, go to ompc.org or email jdavis@ompc.org.

Community

The Shelby Humane Society board of directors. Photo courtesy of Lacey Bacchus.

Humane society benefit a hit More than 140 people attended the sold-out Bark & Wine benefiting Shelby Humane Society on July 23 at the Greystone Country Club in Hoover. Guests were treated to dinner, drinks and an entertaining live auction with Jack Granger. Shelby Humane Society Executive Director Judy Van Luchene updated the crowd on the many successful programs and services at Shelby Humane Society, including local adoptions, transports to Northern states and quick-fix programs to reduce overpopulation. As the only open-admission animal shelter in Shelby County, Shelby Humane Society cares for more than 5,000 animals each year. Hosted by the Shelby Humane Society board of directors, Bark & Wine’s silent and live auction items included a trip to Napa, California; a baseball experience at Wrigley Field with the Chicago

Cubs; Adirondack chairs decorated with paw prints from shelter cats and dogs; a tailgate package with barbecue and Yeti items; a golf package to Greystone; an in-home chef dinner for eight; and a trip to San Destin, among other items. Melissa Brown, vice president of the Shelby Humane Society board of directors, said: “This is the seventh year Shelby Humane has hosted Bark & Wine, and this event continues to grow and help Shelby Humane achieve our lifesaving mission. Past adopters and supporters of Shelby Humane Society enjoy attending to see the continued successes of the shelter. “For those who are not familiar with Shelby Humane Society yet, attending Bark & Wine introduced them to the numerous programs and achievements the hardworking staff at the shelter accomplishes.” – Submitted by Lacey Bacchus.

B10 • September 2016

280 Living

Fostering fellowship with food Local church launches food pantry ministry By ERICA TECHO Kathy Joseph has delivered Christmas lunches to UAB Hospital for close to 30 years, and this year she worked to bring that giving spirit closer to home. Joseph, a Chelsea resident and member of Lester’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Columbiana, is one of the church members who helped kick off the Chelsea Community Food Table, a ministry that helps provide groceries to members of the community with food insecurity. “It was something that had just been on my mind for a while, but [Pastor] Melissa [Patrick] and other ladies in the church were the ones who helped get it off the ground,” Joseph said. While the church is in Columbiana, members chose to name the ministry the Chelsea Community Food Table as a way to welcome individuals from both Columbiana and Chelsea, as well as other surrounding communities. They also wanted the name to represent the importance of mealtime in Christianity, said Lester’s Chapel pastor Melissa Patrick. “We wanted it to be, instead of a food pantry, which would be a common name, ‘table’ was

Pastor Melissa Patrick and Kathy Johnson pack bags of groceries for the Chelsea Community Food Table.

“

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September 2016 • B11

I really hope that it lets them know someone cares about them, that that’s what God put us here on this Earth for.

Kathy Johnson, Pastor Melissa Patrick, Julie Fusco and Heather Wylie help with the Chelsea Community Food Table at Lester’s Chapel UMC. Photos by Erica Techo.

really important to us because Jesus broke bread with people around the table frequently,” she said. “The early church table fellowship was a key part of Christian living.” Joseph said she hopes guests will see there are people who want to see them succeed and want to help when they visit the food table. “I really hope that it lets them know someone cares about them, that that’s what God put us here on this Earth for,” she said. “It lets people know

there is somebody out there that does care.” The food table is held once a month, when community members can stop by to pick up a bag of groceries. The bags include a combination of cooking items such as baking powder or soda, ﬂour, sugar and other ingredients as well as nonperishables and pantry staples such as rice, peas, cereal, crackers, peanut butter, soups and canned vegetables. “Sometimes we’re able to supplement with

potatoes and apples and some fruits and vegetables that have a longer shelf life,” Patrick said. One goal for the food table is to make the process as uncomplicated as possible, and the church does not require any form of identiﬁcation or proof of need for individuals picking up groceries. All they ask for is an address or phone number, Patrick said, so they can be notiﬁed of any time changes. There is also no need to be a member of

”

KATHY JOSEPH

Lester’s Chapel or a church at all, she said. “We do offer some inspiration, and I’m happy to pray with people if they want prayer, but none of that is ever required,” Patrick said. “We want people to feel welcome regardless of their background or regardless of their faith or denomination.” Lester’s Chapel has a small congregation with less than 100 members, and Patrick said at this time, 20 bags is about all they can sustain. In addition to the bags of food, however, the church is hosting a free fellowship supper the night of the Chelsea Community Food Table. The meal is prepared by professionally trained chef and church member Julie Fusco, and food table guests are welcome to stay for the meal. “There’s no need to make a reservation; they just show up and we always have plenty,” Patrick said. Through working in social service and ministry for 30 years, Patrick said she has seen families struggle to ask for help. By offering the food table once a month, she said she hopes people will feel welcome and are able to get what they need. “We’re a small church with a big heart for ministry and wanting to share from the bounty that God has given us, so we hope that people will not be the least bit inhibited to come and receive food if they need it,” she said. Chelsea Community Food Table is the third Wednesday of every month, from 3 to 5 p.m. A fellowship dinner follows at 5:15 p.m. Lester’s Chapel UMC is at 7800 Chelsea Road in Columbiana. Anyone interested in making a food or monetary donation can set up a drop-off time by calling the church at 678-6259.

B12 • September 2016

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Sports

OMHS alumnus Dahl bursts onto big league scene By KYLE PARMLEY David Dahl wasted no time making a splash in the big leagues. Called up to Colorado from Triple-A Albuquerque on July 25, the Oak Mountain High School product was inserted into the Rockies’ lineup in left field that night. In his first game, he notched a hit, putting into motion a record-breaking streak. Dahl was able to register at least one hit in each of the first 17 games of his career, tying a record set by Chuck Aleno in 1941, for the longest hitting streak to begin a Major League career. Dahl smacked his first career home run in his third game, a solo shot in Baltimore. Through his 17 game hitting streak, he rolled up a .358 batting average, with three home runs and 10 runs batted in. It didn’t take Dahl long to jump from the sixth spot in the lineup squarely into the middle of the order, hitting third, fourth or fifth most nights in the month of August. “It’s been a whirlwind and it’s been crazy, but it’s been really fun,” Dahl said in an interview with MLB Network on August 17. The astronomical rise of the left-handed

hitter has happened quickly. He holds Oak Mountain records for career batting average (.421), hits (157), runs scored (119), doubles (44) and RBIs (98), and he hit .449 in 2011. He signed to play college baseball at Auburn University, but was selected 10th overall by the Rockies in the 2012 MLB draft, just one slot ahead of another Auburn signee and current All-Star, Addison Russell. Dahl ripped up the minor league ranks this year, hitting for a combined .314 average, 18 home runs, and 61 RBIs between Double-A and Triple-A. He played just 16 games at Albuquerque before being called up, and racked up a scorching .484 batting average. He told the story of how he found out about his call-up to the big leagues. He was preparing for a game much like any other, when he was summoned to the dugout. In the same MLB Network interview, he said, “I get in the dugout, and our coach Glenallen Hill, stopped me, and he said, ‘Hey, you need to come with me.’” Dahl spoke with Hill brieﬂy in his ofﬁce and learned the news, and was “in shock.” “It was something I’ll never forget,” he said.

Former Oak Mountain star David Dahl has quickly made his mark with the Rockies. Dahl tied a 75-year-old record with a 17-game hitting streak to begin his career. Photo courtesy of the Colorado Rockies.

280Living.com

September 2016 • B13

BRIARWOOD VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW Grace Mulvaney is a junior right-side hitter for the Lions. Photo by Frank Couch.

‘Sky’s the limit’ for Lions in Robertson’s first season By KYLE PARMLEY Briarwood Christian School has a new varsity volleyball coach, but the Lions have no plans to stop being a force. The school has plenty of tradition, winning seven state championships in a span of nine years in the 1990s. “My goal is to continue that tradition,” said new head coach Jeff Robertson. Robertson inherits a program that has been reclassified to the Class 5A level, where he said he hopes to have his program compete at a high level. He has coached the junior high volleyball team the previous nine years before getting the high school varsity job. “Based on what I’ve seen so far, the sky’s the limit,” Robertson said. “We’ve got six returning varsity players with a lot of experience.” Last season, the Lions won the area tournament as the No. 2 seed, and advanced to the first round of the super regionals. With plenty

of key pieces returning, there is certainly the opportunity and expectation to go further. Briarwood has two seniors in Alexandra O’Brien and Natalie Crumpler, a setter and outside hitter, respectively. Robertson said he is looking to them for leadership. Some other players the Lions will rely on include junior Sophie Muir-Taylor, freshman Kolbi Reed, junior Anna Donohue and junior right-side hitter Grace Mulvaney. Donohue is making the switch to libero after spending last season as the team’s setter. Robertson is conﬁdent she will excel at a different spot due to his wealth of experience with nearly every player while they were in junior high. “There’s only two on the varsity team that I didn’t work with in junior high,” Robertson said. “I’ve got a good knowledge of them, good rapport, and they’re real excited.” The Lions open their season Aug. 25 when they host Gardendale at 6 p.m.

OAK MOUNTAIN VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW

Molly Grace Wade is a soft-spoken leader for the Eagles’ volleyball team. Photo courtesy of Barry Stephenson.

A year older, Eagles look for better results By KYLE PARMLEY A young team takes its early-year struggles and uses them as lessons going forward. That’s what Oak Mountain’s volleyball program is hoping for, after a letdown in the Class 7A, Area 5 Tournament last fall. “Although we had beaten Thompson three times already going into the area match, they beat us that one time, eliminated us and ended our season that way,” said Tien Le, the Eagles’ head coach. The Eagles rose to as high as No. 4 in 7A in the Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings in 2015, but “mentally” struggled in the postseason. Le said he is excited about the class of girls who will be juniors this fall, and hopes another year under their belt will prove beneﬁcial in making a deep playoff run in 2016. “We’re hoping, and we’re really thinking that, now that they’re juniors with three years behind

them, we can do a lot better,” Le said. “The outlook for this year’s team is very, very high.” Unfortunately for the Eagles, Cameron Rueschenberg, who would “probably be the leader on the court,” suffered a knee injury that required surgery in April, Le said. There is an outside chance she could return to practice at some point in August, but the exact timeline of her recovery has yet to be determined. Mollie Grace Wade is a soft-spoken leader for Oak Mountain, and is a setter as well as a hitter. Jacoby Sims and Kenzie Warren make up the rest of the senior class along with Wade. “We’re going to rely on Jacoby to carry a lot more of our offense (until Rueschenberg is back),” Le said. Torie Denkers and Kaitlyn Lund are two others who will bolster the Eagles attack, along with a handful of others who will contribute greatly, according to Le. Oak Mountain opens its season Aug. 25 at Bayside Academy in Daphne.

B14 • September 2016

280 Living

BRIARWOOD FOOTBALL: SEPTEMBER PREVIEW

Lions kick off regional contests By KYLE PARMLEY The Briarwood Christian School football team carries a weight on its back that has been building for 23 years. It’s a good kind of pressure; the kind of pressure that comes from being successful. The Lions are aiming to qualify for the state playoffs for the 24th consecutive season under head coach Fred Yancey. “It was extremely important to us to be able to continue that (in 2015),” assistant coach Shane Harmon said at the Jefferson-Shelby Media Days. “When we finally got in, there was a sense of relief there. But then, once we got to the playoffs, we didn’t want that to just be the goal. We wanted to play well and we did.” The Lions jumped up to 5A before the 2000 season, and remained there until being bumped up to 6A in 2014. After two seasons at that level, Briarwood is back at the 5A level and ready to make some noise. Briarwood takes on Vestavia Hills in a season-opening jamboree game and Chelsea in a non-region matchup to kick things off before beginning its slate in Class 5A, Region 5 with a Sept. 2 game against Moody. The Lions have not played Moody since 2011, but hold a 9-5 mark all-time against the Blue Devils, including winning the past six matchups dating back to 2006. On Sept. 9, the Lions will make a road trip to play Wenonah, a program Briarwood has never faced on the field. Briarwood will return home the following week in a similar situation to play host to head coach L.C. Cole and Fairfield in another region contest. The Lions have never faced Fairfield on the gridiron. Many teams play during the first week of the season now in order to take an off week in the middle of the season, but Briarwood breaks the

Briarwood looks to get off to a solid start in September, with four Class 5A, Region 5 contests. Photo courtesy of Todd Kwarcinski.

mold. Due to the jamboree contest to open the year, the Lions play 10 straight regular season games without a week off. Briarwood finishes the month of September with a pair of road games, the first against Mortimer Jordan in a non-region battle. Mortimer Jordan advanced to the 5A state championship game last fall. In the only previous matchup between the two teams, a first-round playoff game in 2011,

Briarwood blanked the Blue Devils, 38-0. The Lions return to region play against St. Clair County Sept. 30 in the teams’ ﬁrst matchup in 20 years. Briarwood holds a 5-2 edge all-time in the series, with a 9-7 second-round playoff victory in 1996, in the most recent matchup. Harmon said he expects the region to be just as tough as the previous two years, when the Lions were in 6A. But he is hopeful that

once the playoffs come around, Briarwood’s “best effort” will be enough against most teams. “The difference was when we got to the playoffs (in 2014 and 2015), even though in the regular season we had disappointing (records) the last two seasons by our standards, we went as far as we could really go,” he said. “Our best effort will be good enough to compete against whoever we face.”

280Living.com

September 2016 • B15 CHELSEA FOOTBALL: SEPTEMBER PREVIEW

Hornets aim to get off to hot start By KYLE PARMLEY The Chelsea High School football team has started each of the last two seasons with a redhot 5-0 record, but each season unfolded much differently. In 2014, the Hornets dropped four consecutive region games after that start and missed the playoffs. Last fall, Chelsea won two of its last three to keep its head above water and qualify for the state playoffs. It remains to be seen how the Hornets’ first five games go this year, but after matchups with Oak Mountain and Briarwood, the Class 6A, Region 3 slate begins Sept. 2 against Wetumpka. “I like having two regulation football games before it starts counting for real,” said Chelsea head coach Chris Elmore. “We’ve got two opponents right out of the gate … that are going to test us.” Elmore said he thinks playing two opponents accustomed to competing at a high level to kick the season off will only benefit the Hornets moving forward. “Whatever the results, I know we’ll find something about ourselves in those two games that’ll make us better for that first region game,” he said. “It’s important for us. Obviously we want to win both of those games, but more importantly, we’ll find out playing those two teams where we are, what we need to improve, what we need to fix.” Those two games will help a defense a little wet behind the ears gain experience, as the Hornets lost a handful of seniors, some in key spots, according to Elmore. Repetitions in summer 7-on-7 events were helpful, but real-game experience cannot be duplicated. Chelsea and Wetumpka have faced off twice before, in 2012 and 2013, with Wetumpka claiming both contests in high-scoring fashion. Wetumpka is a new addition to Region 3, as the AHSAA reclassified before the 2016-17

The Chelsea defense looks to gain valuable experience in the first two games of the season before beginning Class 6A, Region 3 play on Sept. 2. Photo courtesy of Cari Dean.

academic year. The following week, Sept. 9, the Hornets travel to Alexander City to take on Benjamin Russell, always a tough opponent and one that has defeated the Hornets easily each of the last two seasons. “We went into that Ben Russell game (last year) banged up and had a lot of guys out,” Elmore said, noting that the team made minor

tweaks to its offseason strength and conditioning program with the goal of avoiding that scenario in 2016. “We think that’s paid off. We feel like we’re in better shape than we’ve ever been, and that fits with our philosophy offensively and team-wise. We’re going to have to play fast. So I’d be interested to see how that works out.” Chelsea makes a visit to Pelham Sept. 16 to

face the Panthers, also a new face in the region. Pelham is attempting to rebound from a 1-9 campaign in 2015. The Hornets are just 2-6 all-time against Pelham, but won a 55-34 decision in the programs’ most recent meeting in 2013. Gardendale comes to Chelsea Sept. 23 in a non-region matchup before the Hornets have a week off the last Friday of the month.

B16 • September 2016

280 Living

OAK MOUNTAIN FOOTBALL: SEPTEMBER PREVIEW

Matchups pivotal in postseason quest By KYLE PARMLEY The Oak Mountain High School football team entered the 2016 season just two years removed from a 10-win season, and with a bevy of starters to replace, it’s hoping to get back to that level this fall. “We lost an awful lot of good players from a year ago,” head coach Cris Bell said. The Eagles began the season with a pair of non-region matchups against Chelsea and at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa to begin the season, but the always-tough Class 7A, Region 3 schedule begins Sept. 2 with a game against Huffman. The Vikings are new to 7A, and are the only new face in Region 3, replacing Hewitt-Trussville, which moved to Region 4. The Eagles and Vikings have never met on the football field, but under head coach Alex Wilson, Huffman reached the state playoffs last fall for the first time since 2005. On Sept. 9, the Eagles will welcome Vestavia Hills and legendary coach Buddy Anderson — now in his 39th year atop the Rebel program — to Heardmont Park. Last year, the Rebels jumped out to a 14-0 lead and Oak Mountain never recovered, eventually falling 35-26. Oak Mountain has only won two of 12 meetings against Vestavia Hills, with its most recent triumph coming in 2014. Thompson and Oak Mountain have been in the same region for each of the past nine years, and face off Sept. 16 at Thompson. Last season’s contest between the two teams was a thriller, as the Eagles overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to win, 41-37. Now-graduated quarterback Warren Shader totaled five touchdowns on the night, while returning running back Daniel Salchert rushed for 119 yards. Oak Mountain is 8-4 all-time against Thompson, and has won six consecutive matchups between the two teams. Following an off week, the Eagles will

Running back Daniel Salchert will be a key part of the Oak Mountain offense, as the Eagles look for a successful month of September. Photo courtesy of Barry Clemmons.

conclude the month of September with a home bout against Hoover Sept. 30. They came close to pulling the upset over the vaunted Bucs last year, but the offense was unable to reclaim the lead in the ﬁnal quarter, and Hoover won, 17-14. The loss dropped Oak Mountain to 0-3 on the season at the time. “I think our kids learned a lot about themselves,” Bell said. “I think they came out of that with a renewed sense of purpose. They could have very easily, at that point going into

Hoover, thrown their hands up and said, ‘We’re 0-2, good gracious, we’re going to get our brains kicked out this week.’ But they didn’t.” Oak Mountain has never defeated Hoover in 13 tries, and the three-point margin is the closest the Eagles have been since 2007. Despite being so close, the Eagles came away conﬁdent and have used that fact as motivation during the offseason and in preparation for the 2016 season. “That’s the thing about Hoover,” Salchert

said. “We didn’t ﬁnish. Now, everything we do, it’s about ﬁnishing. That’s how we’re going to win those games this year.” That team mindset carries over into what Salchert said he hopes is a strong senior year for him as well. “Sophomore year, I had a great year,” he said. “And I just thought it was going to happen again, and it didn’t. That is driving me to make better plays and do a lot more things in the offseason.”

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September 2016 • B17 SPAIN PARK FOOTBALL: SEPTEMBER PREVIEW

Showdowns highlight Jags’ slate Running back Larry Wooden will help power the Jags’ offense as it prepares for a tough September slate. On Sept. 9, the Jags will take on Hoover in a rematch of last fall’s 7A state semiﬁnal, which Spain Park won 7-6. The game will be played at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. Photo by Ted Melton.

By SAM CHANDLER The Spain Park High School football team will embark on its quest to reclaim the Class 7A, Region 3 title when it opens region play at home against Vestavia Hills High School on Sept. 2. The game marks the first of four region matchups the Jags will play in September. Other opponents include crosstown rival Hoover, Mountain Brook and Huffman. The Jags started off the season with two non-region games against Gadsden City and Muscle Shoals. Spain Park went 7-0 in region play in 2015 and clinched the region crown thanks in part to a stout defense and consistent kicking game. Last season, the Jags’ defense pitched three shutouts in the seven-game span, and limited region opponents to 59 points total. Former place-kicker Crosby Gray, meanwhile, lifted Spain Park to a pair of victories by nailing game-winning field goals. “I think the margin of error in our region, and especially with us, is very small,” Jags head coach Shawn Raney said. “You look at the tight games we won last year, we lost (those) the year before and were 6-4 and did not make the playoffs.” The Jags will look to duplicate last season’s flurry of region success starting with their matchup against Vestavia Hills. Last fall, Spain Park rolled to a 21-0 win over the Rebels. Perry Young, a former Jag and current University of Cincinnati linebacker, spurred his team to victory with a momentum-shifting field-goal block. Following their date with Vestavia, the Jags will play one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the 2016 season. On Sept. 9, they will take on Hoover in a rematch of last fall’s 7A state semifinal, which Spain Park won 7-6. The game will be played at Hoover

Metropolitan Stadium. “We just treat it like any other game, and just go out and do what we’ve been doing all year and preparing for all year,” Raney said. Spain Park stunned Hoover in last fall’s regular season meeting at the Hoover Met. After 13 failed attempts — save a forfeit victory in 2007 — the Jags knocked off the Bucs for the ﬁrst time in school history. Spain Park’s 17-0 triumph ended Hoover’s 43 game in-state win streak, and it marked the ﬁrst time the Bucs had

been shut out since 1991. “I love having that on our side,” Jags senior linebacker Houston Hollis said. “It gives a little more motivation to say, ‘Hey, we can go out and do it again.’” Spain Park will come back Sept. 16, for a home game against Mountain Brook. In their 2015 matchup, former running back Wade Streeter and current running back Larry Wooden carried the Jags to a 21-7 victory. The tandem combined for 167 yards rushing,

and Wooden accounted for two of the team’s touchdowns. Spain Park will have a week off after the Mountain Brook game, but will return to action Sept. 30. The Jags will host Huffman, a team that moved into Region 3 following the most recent wave of AHSAA reclassification. The two teams have never before gone head-tohead on the gridiron. The Vikings qualified for the postseason in 6A last fall for the first time since 2005.

B18 • September 2016

280 Living

KICKING UNDER THE LIGHTS Senior kickers feel the spotlight when their time to compete arrives By SAM CHANDLER

helsea High School senior Tyler Thomas vividly remembers what it felt like to save his team’s season. In a Week 8 matchup against Pell City High School in 2015, the 5-foot-8 place-kicker converted a last-minute, 38-yard field goal to give his Hornets a pivotal 17-16 victory. The heroic kick secured Chelsea a spot in the playoffs. “When I kicked that game-winner against Pell City, it was the best feeling ever,” Thomas said. “I didn’t even know what to do. I just like jumped into one of my lineman’s arms, and he held me up in the air. It was the best feeling I’ve ever had in my whole life.” The mention of a missed field goal triggers an equally evocative memory. Playing a position steeped in expectations, Thomas said every unsuccessful attempt carries its own sting. “When I miss a kick, I can’t stand myself. I get so mad at myself,” he said. “It makes me feel bad about myself that I let my team down, my coaches, my friends and my family members.” Such is the dichotomy of being a high-school kicker. Vindicated in triumph and scarred by defeat, the kids who fill this overlooked position frequently labor in the shadows until they are needed most.

Oak Mountain High School senior kicker Nick Carney, No. 1, fulﬁlls his team’s kickoff, ﬁeld goal and punting responsibilities. Photo courtesy of Barry Clemmons.

Then, the pressure is on. Beckoned to take center stage under the Friday night lights, the collective weight — of a team, of a fan base, of a season — suddenly rests upon their shoulders. But they would not have it any other way.

FEELING THE PRESSURE

Oak Mountain High School senior Nick

Carney said the most pressure-packed moment of his career came on an onside kick late in a game. The ball bounded off his foot perfectly, he said, before grazing over an opponent’s ﬁngers and falling into his teammate’s hands. “After that, everybody just went berserk on the sideline and in the stands,” Carney said. Although the onside attempt has etched its

place in his memory, Carney said that every kick is accompanied by its own dose of anxiety, especially field goals. Each time he splits the uprights, he said a sigh of relief races through his body. “You definitely feel the pressure,” Carney said. “There’s always that one second when the ball is snapped, there’s always a millisecond of, ‘Am I going to miss this, or am I going to make this?’ But I just try to get that out of my mind as fast as I can and just let my leg do the work.” To a kicker, confidence is everything. That’s why Thomas and Carney both stressed the importance of an unflappable mentality. While Thomas said that place-kicking is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical, Carney said it was an even split. Regardless, their answers reveal the existence of a game within a game — not between the sidelines, but between the kicker’s ears. “You can be a great kicker, but if it’s in your brain that you’re going to go out there and miss it, you’re going to miss it nine times out of 10,” Thomas said. That’s why Thomas, like Carney, employs a simple strategy to prevent the formation of a negative mindset. Both said that the most effective way to prepare for a kick is by limiting how much time they spend thinking about it. “I just try to clear my mind,” Carney said. There’s no time for reflection, either. No matter the outcome, Thomas said, you have to move on.

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September 2016 • B19

“

There’s always that one second when the ball is snapped, there’s always a millisecond of, ‘Am I going to miss this, or am I going to make this?’ But I just try to get that out of my mind as fast as I can and let my leg do the work.

”

NICK CARNEY

Chelsea High School senior kicker Tyler Thomas, No. 17, struck a game-winning ﬁeld goal against Pell City in 2015. Photo courtesy of Cari Dean.

“It doesn’t matter if you made a 60-yarder or you missed a 10-yarder or an extra point. If you can’t have a short memory, I don’t feel like you’re going to be a successful kicker,” Thomas said.

IT’S WORTH IT

Even with the lofty expectations, high

pressure and various mental barriers, Thomas and Carney reached a uniform verdict about their position: It’s worth it. Forget the errant kickoffs and chunked ﬁeld goals. At the end of the day, memories of triumph trump those of defeat. “It’s just like in life. You have your high points and your low points. Your high points are

the best parts, like when I made the game-winning kick against Pell City, it was the highest point ever,” Thomas said. “But a year before that, we were playing Pell City, and I lost us the game, but nobody really remembers that except a few people. They all just remember me sending us to the playoffs.” Thomas and Carney will aim to further their

impact this fall. Playing in competitive regions, their respective success could mean the difference between postseason sensation and regular season deﬂation. With a game on the line, you can bet they’ll be ready to go. “I feel like it’s the best job ever,” Thomas said.

B20 • September 2016

280 Living

CALL

Spain Park volleyball player Ali Close turns the page on her debilitating ankle injury Ali Close suffered a severe ankle sprain the day before the season last fall, hampering her for the entire season. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Mitchell.

By KYLE PARMLEY

othing has come easy for Ali Close on the volleyball court the last few years, but that has not stopped her from making the most of her chances. The ﬁrst sign of trouble came when she sprained her left ankle in January 2015 during the club season of her sophomore year at Spain Park High School. “The doctor told me I eventually would need surgery, but he was going to let me ﬁnish out high school,” Close said. “I rehabbed it and came back playing, summer and all that.” To add insult to injury, or more literally injury to injury, Close suffered another setback the same week. After already being restricted

to upper body workouts, she failed to follow proper procedure after a repetition in the weight room, and her right ring ﬁnger was smashed between two dumbbells. A quick trip to the doctor repaired the fracture, and “they stitched it up right then and there.” But Close was totally out of commission for a brief time. After rehab, Close was ready to step onto the court last fall as a vital contributor for the Jags. She had the ankle taped up and a brace on top of that. But that was not enough to prevent it from happening again. “Our setter set me far out towards the pole, and I went up and jumped and wasn’t really paying attention to the pole, and when I came down, my ankle landed sideways on it,” she said.

Just like that, she injured her ankle again, this time worse than the initial sprain. In an unusual move, doctors casted her ankle for a week, then transitioned Close to a boot. With a season still ongoing, surgery was not an option in her mind. She was willing to do whatever it took to get back on the court and ﬁnish out the season. After a few more weeks of rehab, she slowly eased her way back into practices, and found herself back on the court on Oct. 2, 2015. Although not near full strength, she wanted to do whatever she could to contribute. “Honestly, I was a little scared to be playing, because I kind of had that surgery in the back of my mind. We already had it set up. I knew it was coming,” Close said.

Close said she is back to full strength and hopes to lead Spain Park to great heights in 2016. Photo by Kyle Parmley.

Before the injuries, Close was a right-side hitter for the Jags, but without the ability to jump in her compromised state, she played on the back row for the remainder of the season. Her playing time was brief, jumping in when needed. But when the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament came around, her services were required in a big way. Spain Park and Vestavia Hills went down to the wire in a five-set match, and Close summoned the strength to play the majority of the night. “That was definitely a tough match, but I was able to come in and play and that was straight adrenaline,” she said. She had surgery right after the season, and endured the long road back. She completed her rehabilitation in the spring, and now feels back to full strength. “It was definitely a long process, but it feels better than it ever has,” Close said. Those should be encouraging words for a Spain Park team with high aspirations in Kellye Bowen’s third year at the helm. Close is back on the right side, playing her normal position. There is a catch to that occasionally, though. “To this day, if I am playing on the outside, or if there’s a rotation where I have to hit outside, if I’m set too far out, I don’t jump near the pole,” she said. “I usually just stay on the ground and try to get the ball over. Other than that, I’m back playing.” She called the process humbling, and admitted to being devastated when she reinjured her ankle just before last season. “God definitely used it to teach me a lesson that my plan isn’t ultimately what happens. It’s his plan that ultimately prevails. That’s a valuable lesson I learned. If that’s what it took for me to learn that lesson, then that’s what I’ll take,” she said. Close’s three years in the varsity program coincide with Bowen’s tenure, as the Jags have gone from nine wins in 2014 to 22 wins in 2015. They said they hope to achieve even more in 2016. “She’s phenomenal, teaching us how to play, how to interact with each other on and off the court,” Close said of her coach. “Obviously, you can’t say enough about her.” Bowen said she expects to rely on Close to guide the team on and off the court, and commends her persevering spirit. “She’s never given up; she’s never wavered from that, and she’s one of my strongest leaders. She’s going to play a very important role as far as that goes,” Bowen said.

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B22 • September 2016

280 Living

STIDFOLE

CONTINUED from page B1 or walk without experiencing the burning pain, and he would nearly pass out from fatigue as his strength dwindled. Two meets into outdoor track, he pulled the plug on his season, washing away a prime opportunity to raise his recruiting stock. He did not run at all for six weeks. “He had been running for basically five years training for May of his junior year,” Andy Stidfole said, “and he got that taken away from him.” All along, the family searched for answers. They found none for three months. Jodi Stidfole, Cole’s mother, said visits to the pediatrician, orthopedist, chiropractor and physical therapist all ended the same. “Every doctor we went to was just like, ‘I’ve never seen this before. I’ve never heard of it,’” Jodi Stidfole said. “They were clueless.” An examination by a neurologist in late April finally yielded a different outcome. After drawing more than 20 vials of blood, shoving a needle deep into her patient’s foot and testing muscle reaction via shock therapy, Cole Stidfole’s neurologist gave the family a polarizing verdict. They were told he had developed idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, a diagnosis indicating nerve damage, loss of feeling and loss of reflexes (peripheral neuropathy) caused by an unidentified source (idiopathic). There was no conclusive evidence as to what triggered the condition, and the Stidfoles were told that no surefire treatment existed that guaranteed symptom reversal. “I was in shock. I was just like, ‘How did this happen to me?’” Cole Stidfole said. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to run again. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to fix it or not. It was just kind of sad and depressing to think about.”

AN UNCONVENTIONAL TREATMENT

On May 6, Cole Stidfole sat in a chair at Trina Health in Fairhope. Surrounded by elderly patients who sought to reverse the effects of diabetes, he stayed glued to his seat for nearly four hours as an IV pumped glucose into his slender frame.

Cole Stidfole will look to regain his old form on the cross-country course this fall. Photo by Sam Chandler.

Every 12 minutes, he self-administered a ﬁnger prick. He had to ensure his blood sugar level remained in check. May 6 marked the second day of Cole Stidfole’s initial back-to-back Artiﬁcial Pancreas Treatment for idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. Recommended by his neurologist as a potential solution, the FDA-cleared treatment uses glucose to stimulate the release of insulin, which tells the liver to produce the enzymes required for proper metabolism. In turn, cells are provided with fuel for self-repair and regeneration. “What it does is it goes in your pancreas, the glucose, and that kicks on your pancreas to make new cells, which replaces the old ones that are messed up,” Cole Stidfole said. “It’s not very fun, but it’s worth it.” In an ideal world, Cole Stidfole would have been 45 minutes away in Gulf Shores, preparing to defend his state outdoor track title in the 3,200 meters. It was Day One of the state meet, and hundreds of high school athletes had convened on the coast. He would have been one of them, but instead, he was toeing a different

kind of starting line. “They’ve never treated somebody with this Artificial Pancreas Treatment before that wasn’t diabetic,” Jodi Stidfole said. “So Cole’s kind of like a test case, and so far they’re real happy with the results.” Cole Stidfole said he noticed a near-immediate difference. He attended the state track meet after completing his pair of preliminary treatments, and said he felt energized enough to jog with teammates before and after their races. After his third treatment one week later, he said he was able to run through his neighborhood for 15 to 20 minutes. The progress hasn’t stopped. He has regained feeling and reflexes in his legs and feet, and at last, the burning sensation is gone. “After the first couple treatments, they didn’t hurt walking around or standing up or anything like that,” Cole Stidfole said of his legs. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is great. It’s actually working,’ and then now I can run, and there’s no burning, so it’s working pretty well.’” Since the Trina Health location in Fairhope is the closest center that offers the Artificial Pancreas Treatment, the southbound trip became a ritual for the Stidfoles this summer. From May through late June, Cole Stidfole received weekly treatments. Then, he switched to biweekly treatments. Although he’s been pleased with the results, Andy Stidfole said he needs to see his son make it through a full season of training with no complications to be fully convinced of the treatment’s effectiveness. If everything goes according to plan, Andy and Jodi Stidfole said the goal is for their son to be completely recovered and weaned off the treatment by Christmas. Kyle Dudley, Cole Stidfole’s coach at Oak Mountain, has witnessed firsthand the woes emdured by the Eagles’ star runner. Through all the trials of the past seven months, Dudley said one thing hasn’t wavered: Cole Stidfole’s composure. “I think in that situation it’s understandable to kind of run a gamut of negative emotions, but he really never showed any of them,” Dudley said. “He was always positive, never showed

any signs of anger or hurt or discouragement, always just looked at it as a challenge, and he’s handled it as well as I could have possibly asked him to handle it.”

GEARING UP FOR THE SEASON

When Cole Stidfole clocked the fastest 5K time in the state of Alabama last fall, Andy Stidfole was told by fellow parents that his phone wouldn’t stop ringing come July 1. That’s the day when college coaches are allowed to start contacting rising seniors who have merited their recruiting interest. The events of this past spring altered that reality. Although Cole Stidfole received recruiting mail from traditional distance running powerhouses like the University of Wisconsin and Syracuse University during his junior year, his conspicuous absence from spring race results took a toll on his allure. In the days leading up to July 1, Andy Stidfole said he predicted that his phone wouldn’t ring it all. “That’s basically what happened,” he said. If Cole Stidfole has it his way, the lines shouldn’t stay silent much longer. This summer, he has been running under the generous guideline prescribed by his neurologist: Train as if there were no issues. It’s a message he’s taken to heart. “She said any nerve damage that was done, you’re not going to make it worse,” Andy Stidfole said. As he’s regained his strength, Cole Stidfole’s mileage and tempo have both increased. By midsummer, he was back to running 40 miles a week. This fall, he said he wants to come back strong. “I don’t want anybody to beat me,” he said. Those are ﬁghting words from someone who has been temporarily stripped of the ability to do what he loves — ﬁghting words from someone determined to prove himself. His motivation, he said, is at an all-time high. “Never take anything for granted and always give 110 percent every day,” Cole Stidfole said of his new motto. “Because it can be taken away from you at any moment.” He may have been knocked down, but he is back on his feet.

280Living.com

September 2016 • B23

Newly hired Briarwood Christian Athletic Director Keith Wahl, with his wife, Alyson, daughter, Mia, and son, Brady, at the Briarwood football ﬁeld. Photo by Frank Couch.

Wahl ready to make impact at Briarwood By SAM CHANDLER Keith Wahl has spent much of the past 20 years coaching high school athletes. This school year, he’ll focus on coaching coaches. Wahl, a Colorado native, moved to Birmingham with his family this summer in preparation for his new position as athletic director at Briarwood Christian School. He will take over for Lions head football coach Fred Yancey, who had served in the capacity since 2012. “I felt like God had prepared us, had prepared me, for a time to lead,” Wahl said. “My entire focus is going to be to support our coaches here. My coaching will be done to coaches, and that’s the inﬂuence I’m looking forward to having, is coaching the coaches, so they can go coach their teams in an unbelievable fashion.” Wahl and his wife, Alyson, along with their two kids, Mia, 9, and Brady, 8, came to Briarwood by way of Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Stanford University running back Christian McCaffrey, a 2015 Heisman Trophy candidate, ranks among the school’s most notable alumni. Wahl started working at Valor, a private, Christian school similar to Briarwood, when it was founded in 2007. He served as the school’s head varsity baseball coach from 2007 through this past spring, capping his tenure with a state title in Colorado’s second-largest athletic classiﬁcation. Wahl himself played collegiate baseball at Hastings College in Nebraska. In addition to coaching, Wahl taught English at Valor from 2007 to 2012 before transitioning into the role of assistant athletic director. He said the experience has helped equip him for his new leadership position at Briarwood. “I had the opportunity to oversee eight or nine sports, so I had a chance to oversee the softball program and some of the great things that they’ve done there, the tennis program, the soccer programs, the wrestling program, the ice hockey program,”

“

I felt like God had prepared us, had prepared me, for a time to lead.

”

KEITH WAHL

Wahl said. “I had a chance to dabble as an AD, just with less sports.” Wahl said he first learned of the position at Briarwood in early April, after a Briarwood school board member informed Valor’s AD of the opening. The AD, Jamie Heiner, relayed the news to Wahl. With his interest piqued, Wahl said he contacted Briarwood to inquire about the job. By mid-April, he flew in for an interview, and one month later, he accepted the position. Although Wahl and his wife had never been to Alabama prior to the interview process at Briarwood, he said the school’s commitment to sports ministry — along with the area’s lush, hilly terrain — convinced him that he was making the right choice. “Briarwood’s leadership is serious about that. I’m serious about that. That’s the core of what we do,” Wahl said in reference to sports ministry. “If we are not doing sports as a ministry, then we are no different than anybody else, and we have to be different in that regard. We have to be ministering to our kids. We have to be ministering to the opponents. We have to be spreading the news of Jesus through sport.” Yancey, who has coached at the school since 1990, said he feels confident that Wahl will excel in his new role. “I think we will discover that he is going to be a really strong leader who will be a perfect fit for Briarwood,” Yancey said. “I really believe that will happen.”

280 Living neighborly news & entertainment

SECTION

C SEPTEMBER 2016

Opinion C10 Faith C11 Real Estate C12 Calendar C13

BUILDING her own path

Spain Park graduate Jessica Lamb develops blossoming music career By ERICA TECHO Even if it looks glamorous in Instagram posts, the life of a touring musician is not an easy one. But for Spain Park graduate Jessica Lamb, it is also one she would not trade. “I can tell you that it’s not living the dream all the time, but I love it,” the 23-year-old artist said. “It’s always something I’ve wanted to do, so it’s kind of surreal, especially in those bigger moments.” In the two years since she started seriously writing music and performing, Lamb has released an EP, “Songs of Travel,” and started work on a second, has opened for Ingrid Michaelson and had her song, “Let Me Be,” featured on the Freeform, formerly ABC Family, show “The Fosters.”

After graduating from Spain Park in 2011, Lamb attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. While she has felt nothing but support from her friends and family in Birmingham and from college, Lamb said setting out on a unique path is not always easy. “It’s also really unconventional, I guess. I went to a tiny Christian school, so a lot of my friends have a job and are getting married,” she said. “It can be hard sometimes, just kind of having to build your own path and create your own career for yourself.” Before she took on touring and recording, however, Lamb had to open up to sharing her music. It’s something that was once frightening, she admitted,

See MUSICIAN | page C8

Jessica Lamb performs at Cahaba Brewing Company as part of a summer music festival. Photo courtesy of Todd Lester.

C2 • September 2016

280 Living

Your Health Today By Dr. Irma Leon Palmer

Americans are thirsty. As of 2015, about 75 percent of North Americans were chronically dehydrated. Our endless beverage choices at gas stations, grocery stores, and even health food stores can give the illusion that we are drinking enough liquid, but liquid is not the solution. Plain, pure water is what brings life and health to innumerable functions of the body. Especially in a chiropractic office, we urge our patients to always be reducing their caffeine, alcohol and sugared beverages and trade them for water. Let’s find out why. Firstly, the type of water we drink is equally as important as the amount we drink. Filling your glass from the tap or grabbing a water bottle out of a vending machine can increase your intake of pollutants and contaminants including fluoride, chemicals, heavy metals, pharmaceutical drugs and more. Even bathing and showering in unfiltered water absorbs toxins in through your skin and breathing in the steam from a hot shower. Installing a water filter in your home is a great way to ensure you are not allowing unwanted inhabitants in your water source. Spring water is ideal. It is untouched and has a good pH balance. To find a natural spring near you, visit FindaSpring.com. Now that we know what type of water is best, how much should you be drinking? A good place to start is to take your body weight, cut it in half, and drink that number of ounces of water every day. Rather than gulping down large glasses at a time, try sipping water all day long to fully hydrate each body system. If you are used to drinking soda, juice, coffee, tea or flavored water, switching to pure water could seem a little

Feeling thirsty?

bland at first. Rather than buying those pocket-sized packets and bottles of artificial colorings, sweeteners and chemicals, try squeezing or infusing lemon and lime in a large glass jug of water and sipping it throughout the day. Lemon water specifically can ease constipation and UTI’s, boost your immune system and energy, detox your liver and clear your skin. There are endless combinations of fruits and herbs to not only flavor your water, but to boost your intake of powerful nutrients to improve your health. Our favorite infused water to serve in our office is strawberry, lime and mint leaves. Give it a try! Here are some of the bodily functions that depend on proper hydration: Digestion: Digestion begins in the mouth with our saliva, made up almost 100 percent of water. This helps break down our food and provide digestive enzymes to aid in the digestion process in the gut. In the lower GI tract, dehydration produces hard and dry stool causing constipation, hemorrhoids, and is a contributing factor to IBS. Water assists in moving the stool smoothly through the colon and giving it the correct texture for elimination. Brain: Our brain is made up of 75 percent water, so it makes sense that dehydration could cause some mental dysfunction. Confusion, sleepiness, moodiness, difficulty concentrating and memory problems are just a few signs that your brain is thirsty. Boost your afternoon energy slump with a big glass of chilled water rather than caffeine. Movement and joint health: The joints in our bodies are surrounded by synovial fluid that acts as a shock absorber and cushions the joints to prevent wear and tear from

continual movement. This fluid can become viscous, or get a thick and sticky consistency, when the body is dehydrated because just like saliva, it is composed primarily of water. The synovial fluid also assists in distributing nutrients to the bones and cartilage. Achy and stiff joints, cartilage degeneration and joint pain can usually be relieved by a permanent increase of hydration. Nervous System and Chiropractic: Messages sent out from the brain through the nerves depend largely on water’s electrostatic and conduction properties. Well-hydrated tissues and body systems mean that the nerve impulses and messages can be more efficiently transferred because water is an excellent conductor. For our chiropractic patients, adjustments can release tight muscles and clear congestion in the tissues which can cause mild to significant detoxification. As with most detoxing, there can be nausea, headaches, dizziness, muscle soreness and other mild symptoms following the initial adjustments. Proper water drinking flushes these toxins out of the body, assists in good movement of the spinal segments and muscle hydration. All of these things increase the benefits of chiropractic throughout the whole body. When back and joint pain decrease, physical activity and exercise can increase. Proper hydration lessens injury and illness through joint and immune support, lessens the effects of sunburn or heat exhaustion for outdoor summer activities, and boosts energy. Isn’t it amazing how many tasks water can positively impact throughout the body? Bottom line, increase your water intake, and watch your health increase!

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C4 • September 2016

280 Living

280 shopping plaza seeing growth By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Brook Highland Plaza is seeing changes, with new tenants arriving, old tenants leaving and others getting makeovers. The property was built in 1994 and last renovated in 2003. It features nearly 550,000 square feet of retail space and is at U.S. 280 South at Brook Highland Drive. New restaurant tenants Zoe’s Kitchen and The Boot at Brook Highland have opened this year, and Outback Steakhouse is undergoing a renovation. Two more dining options are on the way: Las Trojas Mexican Cantina is slated to open in the vacant space next to Party City, and Domino’s Pizza is opening a new location next to Mattress Firm. Bargain Hunt has taken over the space formerly occupied by Big Lots. The new location will offer more than 23,000 square feet of sales space that will house an assortment of brandname apparel, bed-and-bath accessories, electronics, home decor, small kitchen appliances and more. Its Best Bargains Discount Program discounts the price on participating items based on how long items have been in the store. After a month from the date on the price tag, the marked price discounts 10 percent, then it drops an additional 10 percent every Markdown Day (1st, 10th and 20th of every month) until it reaches 90 percent off. The discount store had a grand opening in June. Located in seven states, the franchise said operating out of this tight geographic region allows them a competitive advantage of providing new merchandise selections to customers often two to three times a week. “Bargain Hunt selected Brook Highland for their newest Birmingham area store location because of the tremendous trafﬁc on 280 in front of the center and the very strong co-tenants,” said Peter Adams, vice president of

Several new retailers have come to Brook Highland Plaza. Photo by Frank Couch.

real estate and business development for Bargain Hunt Stores. “Our customers can expect amazing deals. Our savings are 30 percent to 50 percent or more off regular retail, and our unique and constantly changing product selection [includes] new merchandise arriving every week.”

Adams said the company plans to open more stores in greater Birmingham in the next year or two. Hancock Fabrics is closing, leaving an opening between Dick’s Sporting Goods and Home Goods. The other large space available is the former Ross Dress for Less location

next to Petco. The property, managed by DDR, has eight available rental units ranging from 1,400 square feet to more than 30,000 square feet. DDR’s leasing team said they were unable to conﬁrm any new tenants at this time, but said they were negotiating with national retailers.

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September 2016 • C5

LEARNING

through Legos Bricks 4 Kidz teaches STEM through fun pastime

Students learn through playing with Legos with Bricks 4 Kidz. Photo courtesy of Joy Wade.

By ERICA TECHO Teaching STEM concepts — science, technology, engineering and math — does not always require textbooks. Sometimes, all it takes are a few Legos. Bricks 4 Kidz, a franchise with about 600 locations internationally, ﬁrst came to Shelby County in 2012. This year, its after-school lessons will continue at many Shelby County schools. “You can count on us to teach science and engineering concepts with every class or camp or even birthday party we do,” said Joy Wade, a retired educator who owns the Bricks 4 Kidz franchise in Shelby County. This fall’s after-school program, which will be offered at Chelesa Park, Inverness, Oak Mountain, Forest Oaks and Mt Laurel elementary schools as well as Hilltop Montessori, is the motorized model building class, which Wade said is the company’s most popular afterschool enrichment program. Students receive a kit during the program, which includes all of the parts they need to build a variety of models. Each model is planned out by a team of designers, and all model plans are different than what can be purchased in stores. In addition to focusing on STEM, Wade said building the models works on other skill sets as well. “I think it develops problem-solving skills, No. 1, [and] creative thinking,” she said. Students also take apart their models at the end of each class and have to place the pieces and parts back in their kits, which Wade said helps develop and emphasize the importance of organizational skills. Students also work in pairs to build their models, and Wade said she encourages them to ask each other questions. When one pair asks for help, oftentimes she will give them a few

minutes to work further on the problem before stopping by to offer her help. “If they both need help and they tell me they need me, I never go right over to them,” she said. “I let them wait a few minutes … Most of the time by the time I get back to them, they’ll tell me, ‘Oh, we’ve figured it out.’” Students can oftentimes find solutions on their own because they are enthusiastic about the project, fueled by their love of Legos, and do not want to wait before moving on to the next step, Wade said. “If children are motivated to solve the problem, most of the time, they’re much better at it than if they don’t really care,” she said. Kits come in multiple difficulty levels, which Wade said helps the program fit in after-school programs that include a wide range of ages, for example kindergarten through fifth-graders, rather than simply kindergarten through third or second grade. The kits also come in handy, she said, if there is a student who excels at their first few kits. “If after the first class I see I have a really, really skilled builder, I’ll bring something more difficult for that child,” she said. Courses are constantly developing, and each year new programs, themes and models are introduced, Wade said. Lesson plans to meet and teach new science standards are also in the works, Wade said, which she hopes will help teachers through in-school field trip programs and after-school enrichment. “We are really hoping to get other schools, other teachers to schedule in-school workshops with us because we will address standards,” she said. “And we will bring Legos and the kids will have fun.” For more information, go to bricks4kidz. com/Alabama-hoover-birmingham, or Bricks 4 Kids – Hoover, AL on Facebook.

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280 Living

Defying distance and disorder Ashley Moulin chats online with her friend, Ebony Washington, with whom she created Friends on Wheelz. Moulin and Washington often Skype with one another like this conversation at Ashley's Highland Lakes home. Photos by Frank Couch.

5299 Valleydale Road, Suite 111 • Birmingham, AL 35242 (two blocks from 280) www.southeasternjewelers.net • 980-9030

Friends create blog to share journey with cerebral palsy By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE A chance meeting 13 years ago led to a lasting friendship for Ashley Moulin and Ebony Washington. At age 11, both girls were at Shriners Hospital for Children in Greenville, South Carolina. While roommates in the same hospital room for a week, they became fast friends. They soon realized they had more in common than just having surgery on their legs: They both had cerebral palsy as well. Their friendship has remained strong through the years, and the duo, now 25, has teamed up for a new project: Friends on Wheelz, a blog they write for people with CP in order to share their stories and advice and have a place where they can just be themselves. The idea for the project came when Washington was talking to her boss about her struggles. “He told me I had something to share and should start writing about it,” she said. “I asked Ashley if she wanted to get on board with it, and she said yes.” Moulin, who lives in Highland Lakes, and Washington, a resident of Monroe, North Carolina, haven’t seen each other in person in ﬁve years, but they keep in touch via Skype on a weekly basis. “We’ve gone from [AOL Instant Messenger] to Skype, so that shows you how long our friendship has been,” Moulin said. “We like all the same things and are basically the same person. We’re like sisters. Blood doesn’t make you

“

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We’re like sisters. Blood doesn’t make you sisters, the bond does. This shows if you work at it, you can keep a friendship as long as you want it.

sisters, the bond does. This shows if you work at it, you can keep a friendship as long as you want it. It doesn’t matter the distance.” After making plans to meet up earlier this year, their plans were derailed by a snowstorm. However, the friends planned to meet in June in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, at an event by Life Rolls On, an organization that brings together those in wheelchairs — along with their families and volunteers — for an epic day in the ocean. Moulin said they were looking forward to updating their pictures, since the last one of them together was taken five years ago. Both women said they are also excited to embark on their career paths. Washington graduated from Wingate University in May 2015 with a degree in journalism/public relations. She is interested in modeling and acting and has worked as an extra in two television shows. She also works at the Children’s Film Academy in Monroe, North Carolina. The academy teaches script writing and acting to children ages 10-14. Moulin took classes on campus at Faulkner University in Birmingham and is finishing up her math courses at Jefferson State Community College. She has one additional class remaining and plans to start on a public relations degree at Auburn University. Her goal is to do PR for a nonprofit, and she volunteers at VFS Dads, a nonprofit organization in Pelham, which helps feed and counsel families in need. “I want to use this major to raise money for organizations that have touched me and helped me and to be a voice for people with disabilities,” Moulin said. The friends said they hope this community they have created will give others the

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ASHLEY MOULIN

Friends on Wheelz

• WEB: friendsonwheelz.wordpress. com and facebook.com/cpbuddies

opportunity to share their stories and experiences and to open up about people with disabilities. “We want to spread awareness about cerebral palsy,” Washington said. “We want to show people that there is more to us than our wheelchairs, walkers and crutches. We have a lot to offer the world. We may be limited physically, but with our minds we are limitless.” The women said they write what comes to them whenever they feel inspired, and recently began doing one joint blog post per week. “We want to show that anyone can do anything they want to if they believe that they can,” Washington said. “You can live a normal life, but don’t have to be conﬁned to what people tell you that you have to do. We deserve to be treated as equals whether it be workforce, in school or even the entertainment industry. We want people to look at the person, not the disability.” Moulin and Washington said they credit their families’ encouragement and also their faith for helping them remain positive. “We believe that we met for a reason: to tell our stories,” Moulin said. “We want to advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves. We intend to leave this world better than when we came into it.”

C8 • September 2016

280 Living

MUSICIAN

CONTINUED from page C1 but has become a powerful, shared experience. “It’s not easy all the time to share your personal life with the world, but I think that makes it even more rewarding, and it makes me really thankful when I hear that people are connecting to them,” she said. Lamb taught herself to play guitar at 13 and has been writing music for almost as long. She studied music in college, and has played everything from classical to church music, but for a while could not find something that sounded like her. Even after she started writing her own music, she said she did not have the confidence to share it. “I still didn’t have much faith in my music — I didn’t think it would be something I could pursue,” she said. “It was really scary for me for a really long time for me to play music I wrote in front of people.” One of the first times Lamb said she saw people connect with her music and show their support was in April 2015, when she entered a monthlong competition to win $10,000 toward her music. “It was the type of thing where people vote every day for an entire month, so it was the most exhausting thing in the world,” Lamb said. She was constantly sharing the vote link on social media and asking for support, and at the end of the month, was named the winner. The accomplishment is something Lamb said she could not have done without friends’ and family’s support, as well as all the support from people who enjoyed her music. “I think that was the experience that helped show me how willing people were to go out of their way when they didn’t have to,” she said. That $10,000 went toward recording Lamb’s first EP, which was released in August 2015. Songwriting has always been a personal process for Lamb, and she said her music reflects a lot of her experience. “When I started writing music and even now, it’s my way of processing my world and the

Lamb is currently working on her second EP, which will come out in January. Photo courtesy of Todd Lester.

things I go through,” she said. “Things that I’ve been struggling with or thinking of, that’s where I got to process those.” Opening up through music can be intimidating, Lamb said, but it is also rewarding. As someone who personally connects to music and the messages in songs, she said it is rewarding to hear feedback from listeners about how they have been drawn to her music. “It’s just helped me so much to get through some situations, and I think I’m starting to see that happen here or there with people,” she said. “Music is just so powerful, and it’s just kind of

crazy to me to think I can be a small part of that for other people, and that’s one of the things that really motivates me.” Lamb is now working on her second EP, which will come out in January. Even in the short time since her ﬁrst EP, Lamb said she has seen herself grow and develop as an artist. Her second EP will reﬂect more of her sound, she said, as she is more able to communicate what she wants to come across in her recording. “I’ve kind of learned how to become more articulate,” Lamb said. ”I feel like it’s easier for

me to communicate what I want it to sound like.” Performing and having the opportunity to write more songs also have helped her develop, and she plans for her lyrics to be the focus of her next album, she said. “It’s already kind of a completely different sound than my last one,” Lamb said. “For the most part, it’s really stripped down. The most important thing to me is that the lyrics get across.” For more information, go to jessicalambmusic.com, or check out facebook.com/ jlambmusic.

The Quality and Expertise of St. Vincent’s.

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St. Vincent’s One Nineteen 7191 Cahaba Valley Road Hoover, AL 35242 (205) 408-2366 Mon.-Fri. 1-9 p.m. Sat. and Sun. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

stvurgentcare.com

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Fire up the fun this fall!

C10 • September 2016

280 Living

Opinion My South By Rick Watson

Quality and quantity Quality and quantity are two concepts we face almost During the time she underwent treatments she was daily in our lives. We find ourselves making decisions a hostage in her home. Even a small infection, which based on one or the other. For some, quantity is key. But for most of us would be quickly cured with steroids some prefer quality. The reasons we choose one or the and antibiotics, could have been fatal for her. Her other are many. And sometimes these choices are not easy. friends understood her struggle and we kept her in Just after Jilda and I were married in 1974, we spent our thoughts and prayers. our honeymoon in Panama City, Florida. The Quinns, an When Mary and her husband Bryan drove into our older couple, owned Quinn’s Cottages on Laguna Beach. yard for the fish fry last year, we were delighted. She The cottages weren’t air-conditioned, but they were cozy was as happy as I’d seen her in years. and we could afford the rent for a week on our pauper’s About 30 friends and family members had gathpay. ered to enjoy a beautiful spring day. We ate fried On the second day we were there, the Quinns invited us fish and hush puppies. Afterwards we sat around in to lunch, their treat. We agreed and at noon, we wheeled the shade of the oak and pine in our backyard and Watson into the parking lot at Duff’s. It was one of those all-youenjoyed each other’s company. It was a quality day. can-eat cafeterias. As the shadows grew longer in the evening, people began saying I ate pork chops, catfish, shrimp, hush puppies, cake, pudding and their goodbyes. Mary had gone to the bathroom before the drive back soft ice cream over a brownie. You could almost hear the cholesterol to Birmingham and that’s when Bryan told us that Mary’s cancer was clogging my veins. back. I was so full when we left I needed a wheelbarrow to get to the car. After a lot of soul-searching, Mary made the decision along with Quantity was the objective that day, so Duff’s was a good choice. Bryan to forego treatment. Doctors told her without treatment she But quantity versus quality isn’t always as “cut and dry.” Sometimes could expect to live about a year. She decided that she’d come to a the choices require a tradeoff. Our friend Mary is a good example. point in her life where quality was more important than quantity. She discovered in 2003 that she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This Mary and Bryan made the most of the last months of her life and diagnosis kicked off years of chemotherapy, bone marrow trans- she died in her sleep at home instead of in a hospital tethered to tubes plants and experimental drug therapies. Thankfully, treatment and beeping machines. added years to her life. We all face choices as we move through life. Some of the choices As it turns out, cancer kept invading her body. Each time it did, she are no-brainers, but some of them are much more difficult. weighed treatment outcomes, and even though she knew the chemo would make her life miserable she decided that feeling miserable for Rick Watson is a columnist and author. His latest book “Life a year was worthwhile if it could add years to her life. She opted for Changes,” is available on Amazon.com. You can contact him via email quantity instead of quality. at rick@homefolkmedia.com.

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Faith Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

Be awesome and make history Recently I asked my 9-year-old daughter what she wants to be when she grows up. She eagerly replied, “I want to be awesome and make history!” Exactly how she plans to make history is still up in the air, because at her age, that part is irrelevant. All she knows is that she wants her life to count. She wants to matter. She wants a life of signiﬁcance that people will remember for years and years to come. And if we’re being honest, don’t we all feel the same way? Don’t we all long to leave a legacy that outlives our time on earth and keeps our memory alive? Our desire for a meaningful life is good because God planted that desire in us. He created each of us for a special purpose meant to leave this world better than we found it. Sometimes, however, we mistakenly assume that a meaningful life must be grand and spectacular. We look for big signs, big assignments, and clearly signiﬁcant work. And when they don’t come, we get discouraged. We question our value and wonder if God is ignoring us to tend to more important people. But God never ignores us. He thinks about us constantly and speaks all the time. The problem isn’t His lack of attention to us, but our lack of attention to Him. As Job 33:14 says, “For God speaks again and

again, though people do not recognize it.” Usually when we miss God’s presence and God’s voice, it’s because we’re overlooking the small moments and small assignments where He quietly reveals Himself. Sometimes when I forget the value of small moments and small assignments, I think of Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa had a simple philosophy known as “the little way,” which involved doing small things with great love. Her entire legacy was based on loving the person in front of her. Her inspiration was St. Thérѐse de Lisieux, who came up with “the little way” and has been acclaimed as the greatest saint of modern times because her spirituality has influenced millions. St. Thérѐse saw herself as the “little flower of Jesus,” created to give glory to God by simply being herself among the flowers in God’s garden. Just as a child becomes enamored with whatever is before her (and can be fascinated by a simple flower), St. Thérѐse believed we should also have a childlike focus and be completely attentive to the person right before us. In her autobiography “Story of a Soul,” St. Thérѐse said that not every flower can be a rose. Some flowers were created to be wildflowers, daisies or violets. She wrote: “I understand how all the flowers God

has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the perfume of the violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy. I understand that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wildflowers. So it is in the world of souls, Jesus’ garden. He has created smaller ones and those must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God’s glances when He looks down at His feet. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.” What St. Thérѐse recognized is how most humans, deep down, long to be roses. We believe that making an impact requires us to be the showstopper that gets noticed and continuously praised. We fear that being anything other than the rose makes us less special — and less important to God. But every flower is special to God because God created every flower. He loves variety and the beauty that variety brings. Far more important than how the world sees us is how God sees us. And by blooming where we are planted, and staying true to our natural design, we bring God great joy. He delights in all the same, whether we’re a rose, a violet or a wildflower. The world’s idea of a significant life is

to have a wide impact. But I truly believe that the most influential people are those who have a deep impact. More than altering the course of history, they alter the course of someone’s soul. They understand how bringing just one person closer to God makes them an undeniable success in His book. Whatever flower you’re made to be, be a good one. Use your life to make an eternal difference, not a temporary splash. If your name ends up in a history book for future generations that’s fantastic, but if not that’s okay too, because you’re still awesome in God’s eyes. You can still make history in heaven by valuing the size of your love for God over the size of your assignments, and finding peace in the pleasure you give Him even when nobody else is looking. Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Birmingham mom of four girls, columnist, and blogger for The Huffington Post. Her newest book, “LIKED: Whose Approval Are You Living For?,” releases November 15 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. Her first book, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know,” is available everywhere books are sold. Join Kari’s Facebook community at “Kari Kampakis, Writer,” visit her blog at karikampakis.com or contact her at kari@ karikampakis.com.

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280

Real Estate Listings MLS #

Zip

Address

Status

Price

760015

35242

2008 Brook Highland Ridge

New

$424,900

760112

35242

209 Meadow Croft Circle

New

$189,900

760085

35242

5120 Greystone Way

New

$1,970,000

760009

35242

1348 Inverness Cove Drive

New

$229,000

760004

35242

119 Swan Lake Circle

New

$735,000

759988

35242

1080 Norman Way

New

$335,000

759975

35242

1043 Williams Trace

New

$592,000

759944

35242

5366 Meadow Brook Road

New

$539,900

759928

35242

32 Abbott Square

New

$315,000

759900

35242

4967 Caldwell Mill Lane

New

$239,900

759842

35242

5209 Queensferry Lane

New

$1,500,000

760076

35242

84 Ridge View Lane

New

$845,000

759793

35242

1017 Eagle Lake Circle

New

$369,900

759758

35242

2918 Riverview Road

New

$184,900

759736

35242

59 Mt Laurel Avenue

New

$599,500

759997

35043

116 Oaklyn Hills Drive

New

$269,900

759615

35043

181 River Birch Road

New

$269,700

759569

35043

169 Greenbriar Place

New

$368,000

759521

35043

56 Pine Needle Cove

New

$245,000

759194

35043

292 Chesser Park Drive

New

$259,900

Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Aug. 22. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.

2008 Brook Highland Ridge

84 Ridge View Lane

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Calendar 280 Area Events Thursdays: Urban Cookhouse Summit Farmers Market. Summit Shopping Center. 3 p.m.–7 p.m. Visit thesummitonline.com. Fridays: Line Dancing Classes. Heardmont Park Senior Center. 10 a.m. intermediate class, 11 a.m. beginner class. Call 988-0171 for information. Saturdays: Lee Branch Farmer’s Market. 8 a.m.noon. Kids activities, fresh fruits and vegetables and Alabama artisans and craftsman. Visit facebook. com/themarketplaceatleebranch.

8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Visit asburygigglesandgrace.com. Sept. 9: Greater Shelby Chamber Health Services Work Group. 8:30 a.m. Location varies. Visit shelbychamber.org/beneﬁts/work-groups. Sept. 10: Sebastian’s RunWalk for a Cure. 7:30 a.m. Veterans Park. Beneﬁting the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama. $25 adults/$15 kids 12 and younger. Visit sebastiansrunwalk.org.

Sundays through Nov. 13: DivorceCare & DC4K (DivorceCare for Kids). Inverness Vineyard Church, 4733 Valleydale Rd. 1:30 p.m. A special weekly support group and seminar to help deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life. DC4K is a special group (Ages 5-12) to help your children heal from the pain caused by a separation or divorce. Visit invernessvineyard.org.

Sept. 13: Greater Shelby Chamber Education Work Group. 8:30 a.m. Location varies. Visit shelbychamber.org/beneﬁts/work-groups.

Sept. 3: Valleydale Farmers Market. 4601 Valleydale Road. 8 a.m.-noon. Visit valleydalefarmersmarket.com.

Sept. 21: Greater Shelby Chamber Board of Director’s Meeting. 8:15 a.m. Location varies. Visit shelbychamber.org/about-us/ofﬁcer-board.

Sept. 6: Greater Shelby Chamber Small Business Mentorship Program. 8 a.m. Greater Shelby County Chamber, Pelham. Visit business.shelbychamber. org.

Sept. 22: Greater Shelby Chamber Governmental Work Group. 8:30 a.m. Location varies. Visit shelbychamber.org/beneﬁts/work-groups.

Sept. 7: Greater Shelby Chamber Ambassadors Work Group. 11:30 a.m. Location varies. Visit business.shelbychamber.org. Sept. 7: Greater Shelby Chamber Small Business Work Group. 4 p.m. Location to be determined. Visit business.shelbychamber.org. Sept. 8: GriefShare. Faith Presbyterian Church. Thursday nights from 7 p.m.-8:45 p.m. Helping with the loss of a spouse, parent, child or family member. Trained facilitators will guide through difﬁcult experiences. Runs through Dec. 15. $20 registration fee. Visit griefshare.org/groups/63460. Sept. 9-10: Giggles and Grace Consignment Sale. Asbury United Methodist Church. Friday,

Sept. 14: Greater Shelby Chamber Existing Business & Industry Work Group. 8:30 a.m. Location varies. Visit shelbychamber.org/beneﬁts/ work-groups.

Sept. 24: Love Your State Parks Day. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oak Mountain State Park Dogwood Pavilion. Volunteer groups needed to help make improvements to Demonstration Farm, local groups will be leading hikes, nature talks and other fun activities. Sept. 25: Sunday Afternoon Day Hike. 1 p.m. Hargis YMCA Retreat, Chelsea. Free. Call 317-5868. Sept. 26: Adult Couples and Singles Rock and Roll and Classic Country Western. 7 p.m. Every fourth Friday night. $5. Featuring Larry Albright Band. Call 205-988-0171 for information. Sept. 30: Greater Shelby Chamber’s 27th Annual Golf “Fore” Education. 8:15 a.m. Timberline Country Club. Visit shelbychamber.org/beneﬁts/chamber-programs/golf-fore-workforce.

High School Football Schedules SPAIN PARK HIGH SCHOOL

BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Sept. 2: vs. Vestavia. 7 p.m.

Sept. 2: vs. Moody. 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: @ Hoover. 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: @ Wenonah. 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: vs. Mountain Brook (homecoming). 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: vs. Fairﬁeld. 7 p.m.

Sept. 30: vs. Huffman. 7 p.m. CHELSEA HIGH SCHOOL Sept. 2: vs. Wetumpka. 7 p.m. Sept. 9: @ Benjamin Russell. 7 p.m. Sept. 16: @ Pelham. 7 p.m. Sept. 23: @ Gardendale. 7 p.m.

Sept. 23: @ Mortimer Jordan. 7 p.m. Sept. 30: @ St. Clair County. 7 p.m. OAK MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL Sept. 2: @ Huffman Sept. 9: vs. Vestavia Hills. 7 p.m. Sept. 16: @ Thompson. 7 p.m. Sept. 30: vs. Hoover. 7 p.m.

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280 Living

Chelsea Library

Wednesdays: The Tot Spot. 10:30 a.m. 30-minute story time for preschoolers with reading, singing and dancing.

North Shelby Library Kids All month: September Craft. Stop by the Children’s Department in September to pick up a craft to take home or make in the department. All ages are welcome. Supplies are limited. Mondays: Toddler Tales. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs, ﬁnger plays and crafts make up a lively 30-minute program designed especially for short attention spans. Registration required, and begins one week prior to each story time. Ages 19-36 months.

Sept. 3: Lego Club. 10-11:30 a.m. The library provides the Legos, the kids provide the imagination and creativity. Families are welcome to drop in anytime between 10:00 and 11:00 to build spectacular creations. Creations will then go on display in the Children’s Department. All ages welcome. No registration is required. Sept. 13: Picture Book Club: Maisy Mouse. 10 a.m. Sept. 21: Homeschool Hangout. 1 p.m.

Tuesdays: Baby Storytime. 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. A story program for ages up to 18 months and a caregiver. Stories, ﬁnger plays, and music provide interaction for the babies and time for caregivers to share with each other. Registration is required.

Sept. 23: Happy Birthday, Oliver! Help us celebrate the birthday of our favorite library pet, Oliver the Hedgehog! Drop by any time between 10 and 4 for a snack and a hedgehog-themed craft, and don’t forget to make Oliver a birthday card! All ages welcome, no registration required. All day event.

Wednesdays: Family Storytime with Mr. Mac. 10:45 a.m. Family story time is for all ages. Stories, puppets, and lots of music are performed for every member of the family.

Teens

Thursdays: PJ Storytime. 6:30 p.m. Kids of all ages to come and snuggle up and listen to bedtime stories and have milk and cookies.

Fridays: Open Gaming. 3 p.m.-5:45 pm. Gaming, including Wii, XBOX ONE, board and card games and Minecraft. Teens need a parent permission slip on ﬁle to attend.

Mt Laurel Library Wednesdays: Craft. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Drop in to make a craft. All ages with parent help.

Fridays: All Ages Storytime. 11 a.m. Stories, music and more for all members of the family.

Fridays: Toddler Tales. 10 a.m. Storytime for ages 19-36 months.

Sept. 1: Mt. Laurel Book Club. 7 p.m. Discussing The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan.

Fridays: BYOC (Bring your own crochet/craft). 10 a.m.

Sept. 10: Lego Club. 9:30 a.m. For ages 5 and up.

St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Wednesdays: Wellness Wednesdays. To promote healthy living and to highlight the wide range of services and offerings here at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen, we have started Wellness Wednesdays. Stop by the Fitness Center for the following events: September 7: Vertical Jump by Sports Performance; September 14: Tailgate Recipes; September 21: More Matters – Fall Fruits and Vegetables; September 28: Aging Well. Wednesdays: Baby Café. 10 a.m.-noon. We invite breastfeeding moms to join us for our lactation support group meeting. Moms will have the opportunity to meet with a lactation consultant, as well as network with other breastfeeding moms. The group is designed to give breastfeeding moms encouragement and support, as well as helpful information and tips from our expert. This event is free, and registration is not required. Sept. 10: Lupus Support Group. 10 a.m.-noon. This group supports lupus patients and their families. This month’s topic is Living Well with Lupus. This event is free and sponsored by the Lupus Foundation of America, Mid-South Chapter. 1-877-865-8787. Monday starting Sept. 12: Next Chapter Book Club/ Greystone Chapter. The Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) offers weekly opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to read and learn together, talk about books, and make friends in a relaxed, community setting. This group meets at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen in the Wellness Area. The current book the group is reading is The Never Ending Story by Michael Ende. For more information, please visit: facebook.com/nex-

tchapterbookclubgreystonechapter. Sept. 13: Blood Pressure/Body Mass Index Screening. 8-11:30 a.m. A representative from St. Vincent’s Wellness Services will be screening for blood pressure and BMI in the front entrance. These screenings are free. Sept. 20: LifeSouth Blood Drive. 7 a.m.- 2 p.m. Please come give the gift of life by donating blood for those in need of it. LifeSouth will be set up in the parking lot of St. Vincent’s One Nineteen. No registration is necessary. Sept. 20: Comprehensive Diabetes Education. 9 a.m.-1p.m. If you have diabetes or are at risk, this seminar is a must. A physician’s referral is required. Pre-assessments are given preceeding the class time. To register, please call 939-7248. Sept. 20: Walk and Talk. 9-9:30 a.m. Have a burning food or nutrition question? Join one of our dietitians, Donna Sibley, RDN, for a walk and ask questions related to healthy food choices, shopping, cooking, and more. Meet at the Fitness Desk at 9 am. We will walk the outdoor trail or indoor track depending on weather. Sept. 23: Tiny Tot Chef Club 8:30-9:30 a.m. or 9:45-10:45 a.m. Join us for this new simple cooking class for ages 3-4 years where your little chef will experience food from the book Eating the Alphabet. We will make Avocado Toast, Banana Pops and a Cucumber Snail. Ideas will be given to parents to make healthy snacks from the alphabet at home. Help your child get started eating well for a lifetime. The

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cost is $10 per child, and there is an eight child minimum. Please call 408-6550 for reservations. Sept. 26: Breakfast with the Doc – Osteoarthritis: Focusing on Knee and Back Pain. 8-9 a.m. Join Emily Bell Casey, MD, an orthopedic physician with Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, as she discusses the gradual wearing of joint tissue known as osteoarthritis. She will review treatment options, as well as ways to manage pain, increase function and stop the progression. Bring your questions and enjoy a light breakfast. This event is free, but please call 408-6550 to register. Sept. 28: Wellness Screenings. 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. We’ll be offering cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, BMI and waist circumference screenings by appointment. Results and interpretation are available in 15 minutes with a simple ﬁnger stick. The cost for St. Vincent’s One

Nineteen members and for non-members is $20. Call 408-6550 to register. Sept. 29: Teen Pizza Party. 4-6 p.m. If you’re a teen who likes cooking, eating good food and making new friends, then join us for a homemade pizza party. We’ll use fresh ingredients to create a homemade pie and learn new cooking techniques. We’ll also feature a homemade ice cream for dessert. This event is open to ages 1318 years. The cost is $25 per person. Please call 408-6550 by September 27 to register. Sept. 30: One-Pot Wonders. 11 a.m.-noon. Meals that can be made in a dish, skillet or pot are simple but sometimes unhealthy. Join Registered Dietitian Donna Sibley as she demonstrates how to make healthy one-pot meals using a variety of fall vegetables. The cost for this event is $12 per person for tasting and recipes. Please call 408-6550 for your reservations.

Area Events Saturdays through Dec. 10: Pepper Place Market. 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Visit pepperplacemarket.com. Sept. 3: Saturday Morning Train Excursion. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Ozan Vineyard and Cellars. Calera. $32. Visit ozanwine.com. Sept. 3: Ride the Calera & Shelby RR Train. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera. $10-$35. Visit hodrrm.org. Sept. 3 & 10: The Little Engine That Could. Birmingham Children’s Theatre. Both days at 10 a.m. and noon. Visit bct123.org. Sept. 5: 25th Annual Labor Day Celebration and Moon Pie Eating Contest. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. $3-$5. Visit tannehill.org/events. Sept. 8-10: Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival. 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Saint George Malkite Catholic Church. Free admission. Food, live music and dance. Visit saintgeorgeonline.org. Sept. 10: Southeastern Outings Dayhikes, Picnic, Swim and Bicycle Ride. Depart 9 a.m. from Kmart on Greensprings Highway. Contact Dan Frederick 205-631-4680 or seoutings@ bellsouth.net.

11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera. $10-$35. Visit hodrrm.org. Sept. 17-18: Tannehill Trade Days. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. $3-$5. Visit tannehill.org/events. Sept. 20: Heart, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. $32.50-$72.50. Visit heart-music.com Sept. 23-25: Homestead Hollow Arts & Crafts Festival. Springville. $7 adults, $3 children 3-12, under 2 are free. Visit homesteadhollow.com. Sept. 24: Saturday Morning Train Excursion. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Ozan Vineyard and Cellars. Calera. $32. Visit ozanwine.com. Sept. 24: Ride the Calera & Shelby RR Train. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera. $10-$35. Visit hodrrm.org. Sept. 24: Irondale Whistle Stop Festival. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Historic Downtown Irondale. Free admission. Art and food vendors from around the region. Visit irondalewhistlestopfestival.com. Sept. 25: Birmingham Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Railroad Park. 3 p.m. Free and open to the public. Visit act.alz.org.

Sept. 10: Saturday Morning Train Excursion. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Ozan Vineyard and Cellars. Calera. $32. Visit ozanwine.com.

Sept. 25: 25th Annual Magic City AIDS Walk. Railroad Park. 4:30 p.m. Free. Visit birminghamaidsoutreach.org.

Sept. 10: Ride the Calera & Shelby RR Train. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera. $10-$35. Visit hodrrm.org.

Sept. 25: Vulcan AfterTunes: Dylan LeBlanc with Duquette Johnston. 2:30 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum. $15. Visitvulcan.com.

Sept. 11: Sturgill Simpson. Alabama Theatre. 8 p.m. $22-$43. Visit sturgillsimpson.com.

Sept. 25: Breakin’ Bread. 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Sloss Furnaces. Sampling food from the Birmingham Food Scene. $30 early bird general admission, gate price $35. VIP $89/$99. Kids 12 and under free. Visit birminghamoriginals.org.

Sept. 12: BAO Bingo. Birmingham AIDS Outreach. 7 p.m. $15 for 5 games. Visit birminghamaidsoutreach.org. Sept. 15: Live at the Lyric: Roseanne Cash. Lyric Theatre. 8 p.m. $40-$50. Visit lyricbham. com. Sept. 15-17: 44th Annual Greek Festival. 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Holy Trinity- Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church. Food, ﬁne jewelry, art and more. Visit bhamgreekfestival.com. Sept. 16: Alabama Symphony Orchestra Coffee Concerts. 11 a.m. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Sept. 16-17: Alabama Symphony Orchestra EBSCO Masterworks Series. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Sept. 17: Ride the Calera & Shelby RR Train.

Sept. 27: Band of Horses. Alabama Theatre. 8 p.m. $30.50-$43. Visit alabamatheatre.com. Sept. 29: Hearts After Dark. Iron City. 6:30 p.m. Fundraising event beneﬁting Pediatric Heart Transplant Study Foundation. $60 individual, $105 couple. Visit phtsfoundation.org. Sept. 29-Oct. 2: Southern Women’s Show. BJCC Exhibition Halls. Fashion shows, celebrity appearances, food sampling and more. 10 a.m.7 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. $8 advance, $10 at the door. Visit southernshows.com. Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Broadway Night at the Cabaret. RMTC Cabaret Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Some of Broadway’s best perform. Tickets start at $20. Visit redmountaintheatre.org.